CAF confirm 2026/27 Champions League first preliminary round ties after Cairo draw

CAF has confirmed the fixtures for the second preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, with several heavyweight clubs set for potentially challenging ties as the road to the group stage gathers momentum.

The draw, conducted at the Confederation of African Football headquarters in Cairo on Thursday, mapped out the next stage of the competition, where clubs advancing from the opening preliminary round will face some of the continent’s biggest names.

Ghana Premier League champions Medeama SC could face another stern test if they progress past DR Congo giants TP Mazembe in the first preliminary round.

The winner of that tie has been drawn against Tunisian side Club Africain or Djoliba AC of Mali in the second preliminary round, with a place in the lucrative group stage at stake.

Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who received a bye into the second preliminary round, will take on either Wiliete Benguela of Angola or Uganda’s Foresters FC.

South African rivals Orlando Pirates are set to face either AS Mangasport of Gabon or African Stars of Namibia, while Tanzanian champions Young Africans will await the winners of the tie between CFFA and Lesotho’s Lijabatho FC.

Another Tanzanian powerhouse, Simba SC, have been paired against either Mozambique’s 15 de Agosto or Comoros representatives Fomboni FC.

Record African champions Al Ahly were among the clubs exempted from the first preliminary round and will meet the winners of the clash between Eswatini’s Sway Highlanders and Zimbabwe’s KVZ FC.

Five-time African champions Zamalek have been handed a tie against either Aigles du Congo of DR Congo or APR FC of Rwanda, while Egyptian rivals Pyramids FC will face either South Sudan’s Merriekh Bentiu or Uganda’s Heegan SC.

Sudanese giants Al Hilal are scheduled to play the winners of the first-round encounter between Aiglons FC of Burundi and Ethiopia’s Sidaama Buna.

Elsewhere, Moroccan side RS Berkane will face either Star Sport Academy or Medina United FC, while Ivorian champions ASEC Mimosas await the winners of the tie between Mas de Fès and Rahimo FC.

Former African champions MC Alger have been paired with either Rangers International of Nigeria or Sobemap FC of Benin, while Stade Malien will meet either FC Canchungo of Guinea-Bissau or Tengueth FC of Senegal.

Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou will take on either FC San Pedro of Côte d’Ivoire or Rivers United of Nigeria, while Zimbabwean champions Power Dynamos are set to face either JS Saoura of Algeria or Horoya AC of Guinea.

The first preliminary round is scheduled to take place between 4-6 September for the first legs, with the return fixtures to be played from 11-13 September.

The second preliminary round will follow shortly afterwards, with the first-leg matches slated for 14-16 September and the return legs scheduled between 23-25 September.

The winners across the 16 ties will secure places in the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition, while the defeated sides will see their continental campaigns come to an end.