CAF Champions League: Sundowns, Pirates and Espérance begin second-round campaigns

The second preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League begins this weekend, with 32 clubs competing for the 16 places available in the group stage.

Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, four-time winners Espérance Sportive de Tunis, TP Mazembe and South African side Orlando Pirates are among the teams seeking to move closer to continental glory.

Sundowns begin their title defence with an away trip to Angola to face Wiliete, who progressed from the first preliminary round with a convincing 5-0 aggregate victory over Seychelles’ Foresters FC.

Espérance also enter the competition at this stage, travelling to Libya to take on Al-Swehly, while Egyptian side Pyramids FC face South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu after an impressive start to their campaign.

One of the most eagerly anticipated ties will see five-time African champions TP Mazembe host Tunisia’s Club Africain in Lubumbashi.

Both sides will be looking to secure an advantage in the first leg before travelling to Tunisia for the return fixture, with a place in the group stage at stake.

Orlando Pirates, meanwhile, travel to Namibia to face African Stars as they seek to progress further in the competition after their continental campaign last season ended at the hands of DR Congo’s FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo.

Moroccan side RS Berkane, who received a bye into the second preliminary round, begin their campaign away against Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy.

Egyptian giants Zamalek face a trip to Rwanda to meet APR FC, who produced an impressive comeback in the previous round. Zamalek advanced with a 6-1 aggregate victory over Djibouti’s AS Port and will be hoping to maintain that momentum.

Tanzania’s Young Africans travel to Madagascar to face CFFA, while Simba SC host Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto.

Elsewhere, Nigeria’s Rangers International welcome Algerian side MC Alger, while Morocco’s Maghreb Fès host Côte d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas. San Pedro will face Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou.

Guinea’s Horoya AC take on Sudanese side Al-Merriekh after eliminating Algeria’s JS Saoura in the previous round, while Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna face Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman.

Zimbabwean side Scottland FC host Angola’s Petro Atlético, while Senegal’s Teungueth FC meet Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive.

The first-leg matches will be played from 16 to 18 October, with the return fixtures scheduled for 23 to 25 October. The 16 successful teams will secure places in the group stage.

CAF has also announced financial support for clubs eliminated in the preliminary rounds, with each receiving $100,000 to help cover travel and logistical expenses.

CAF Champions League second preliminary round fixtures

Friday, 16 October

• El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan) v Pyramids FC (Egypt)
• APR FC (Rwanda) v Zamalek (Egypt)
• Star Sport Academy (Sierra Leone) v RS Berkane (Morocco)

Saturday, 17 October

• CFFA (Madagascar) v Young Africans (Tanzania)
• African Stars (Namibia) v Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
• TP Mazembe (DR Congo) v Club Africain (Tunisia)
• 15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea) v Simba SC (Tanzania)
• San Pedro (Côte d’Ivoire) v FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)

Sunday, 18 October

• Rangers International (Nigeria) v MC Alger (Algeria)
• Scottland FC (Zimbabwe) v Petro Atlético (Angola)
• Sidama Bunna (Ethiopia) v Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan)
• Wiliete (Angola) v Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
• Horoya AC (Guinea) v Al-Merriekh (Sudan)
• Al-Swehly (Libya) v Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
• Teungueth FC (Senegal) v Colombe Sportive (Cameroon)
• Maghreb Fès (Morocco) v ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire)