Zamalek and Pyramids learn Champions League paths as African draws are completed

The draws for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup were held in Cairo on Thursday, with Egyptian clubs Zamalek, Pyramids FC, Al Ahly and ZED discovering their routes through the preliminary stages.

The ceremonies took place at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), beginning with the Confederation Cup draw at 14:00 Egypt time, followed by the Champions League draw at 15:00.

Zamalek, the Egyptian league champions, and Pyramids FC, who finished runners-up, will represent Egypt in the Champions League. Both clubs will enter the first preliminary round.

Pyramids FC were drawn in a tie against Kenya’s Gor Mahia. The winner of that contest will face the winner of the match between Somalia’s Heegan and South Sudan’s Bantu in the next stage of the bracket.

Zamalek will play Djibouti’s AS Port. The winner will meet the winner of the tie between Rwanda’s APR FC and Congo’s Eagles.

Al Ahly and ZED will represent Egypt in the Confederation Cup. Al Ahly finished third in the Egyptian league, while ZED qualified as Egyptian Cup runners-up.

Al Ahly will begin in the round of 32, where they will face the winner of the preliminary-round tie between Somalia’s Mogadishu and Uganda’s Kitara.

ZED will start in the round of 64 against Telecom Djibouti. The winner of that match will meet Tanzania’s Azam in the round of 32.

The Confederation Cup round-of-64 first legs are scheduled for 6 September, with the return matches taking place on 13 September. The round-of-32 first legs will be played on 18 October and the second legs on 25 October.

The winner of the CAF Champions League will receive a prize of $6m, while the Confederation Cup champions will earn $4m. Clubs eliminated in the preliminary round will receive $100,000.

South African side Mamelodi Sundowns are the holders of the Champions League, while Algerian club USM Alger are the defending Confederation Cup champions.

The draw marked the formal start of the two continental competitions for the 2026-27 campaign. The preliminary rounds will determine which clubs progress into the later stages, with the Egyptian entrants split between the two tournaments according to their domestic league and cup finishes.

Pyramids FC and Zamalek will therefore carry Egypt’s Champions League hopes, while Al Ahly and ZED will compete in the Confederation Cup. Their opening ties will be the first competitive fixtures on the continental schedule following Thursday’s draw.