CAF releases 2026/27 club rankings ahead of Interclub preliminary round draws

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released its official club rankings ahead of the 2026/27 CAF Interclub competitions preliminary round draws, with Mamelodi Sundowns leading the continent’s elite clubs.

The rankings, which are used for seeding purposes in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup draws, place the South African giants at the summit with 73 points.

Sundowns’ position reflects their strong performances in continental competitions over recent seasons, including their latest Champions League success.

Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly occupy second place with 66 points, while Tunisia’s Espérance de Tunis are ranked third with 58 points. Moroccan side RS Berkane and Algeria’s USM Alger complete the top five with 57 and 52 points respectively.

Other notable clubs in the top 10 include Egyptian duo Zamalek (49 points) and Pyramids FC (48 points), Morocco’s AS FAR (41 points), Sudanese giants Al Hilal (39 points) and Algeria’s CR Belouizdad (38 points).

The rankings come ahead of the much-anticipated CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup preliminary round draws, where clubs across Africa will discover their opening opponents on the road to continental glory. The seeding system is based on clubs’ performances in CAF competitions over a five-year period.

Ghanaian clubs also feature on the ranking list, with Medeama SC placed 54th with three points, while Dreams FC sit 32nd with nine points. The rankings provide an indication of continental experience and influence as clubs prepare for another demanding CAF campaign.

Other African clubs included in the ranking are Orlando Pirates (19th, 20 points), Stellenbosch FC (21st, 17 points), Kaizer Chiefs (38th, five points), Simba SC (11th, 38 points) and Young Africans (12th, 35 points).

CAF’s ranking system also serves as a key factor in determining seeded and unseeded teams during preliminary round draws, with clubs accumulating points based on their recent performances in Africa’s premier club competitions.

In the event of teams finishing level on points, results from the most recent seasons are used as the deciding factor.

With continental giants such as Sundowns, Al Ahly, Espérance and RS Berkane occupying the leading positions, the 2026/27 CAF Interclub season promises another competitive battle as clubs chase Africa’s most prestigious trophies.