Mamelodi Sundowns lead CAF rankings as five PSL clubs make top 50

Mamelodi Sundowns have moved to the top of the official CAF Club Ranking ahead of the 2026/27 inter-club competitions, with five South African clubs included among the top 50.

The ranking, released by CAF and revealed by iDiski Times, places Sundowns above Al Ahly after the South African club won their second CAF Champions League title and consistently progressed to the latter stages of the competition over the past five years.

That record has earned Sundowns one of the highest five-year coefficients in the ranking. As a result, they will be exempt from the first qualifying round of the upcoming CAF Champions League and will enter the competition in the second qualifying round.

Orlando Pirates are the next-highest South African club, occupying 19th position. They will therefore have to negotiate both qualifying rounds of the CAF Champions League.

The Buccaneers were knocked out by Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the second qualifying round last season. In the previous campaign, however, Orlando Pirates reached the semi-finals.

They will need another strong run in the competition if they are to improve their position in the ranking. The CAF five-year ranking will also be used as a qualifying factor for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.

Stellenbosch FC are ranked 21st, with their position reflecting their recent performance in the CAF Confederations Cup. Marumo Gallants are 37th, drawing on their run to the semi-finals of the CAF Confederations Cup in the 2022/23 season.

Kaizer Chiefs are one place below Marumo Gallants in 38th. They were eliminated in the group stage of the CAF Confederations Cup last season.

However, only some of the South African clubs listed will have an opportunity to improve their positions during the 2026/27 campaign. Marumo Gallants and Stellenbosch FC did not qualify for a CAF inter-club competition this season, meaning they cannot add to their ranking points.

South Africa’s fourth representative in the upcoming competitions will be Durban City, who earned their place after winning the Nedbank Cup. They are newcomers to the CAF inter-club competition system and are not included among the five South African clubs in the current top 50.

The CAF Club Ranking is based on performances over a five-year period, with clubs’ progress in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup contributing to their positions.

Sundowns’ rise to first place follows both their latest continental success and their sustained involvement in the latter stages of the CAF Champions League. Their improved ranking also provides an immediate competitive advantage, allowing them to avoid the opening qualifying round.

Orlando Pirates, by contrast, face a longer route into the group-stage phase, while the ranking gives them a clear target as they attempt to recover from last season’s early elimination and build on their previous semi-final appearance.