Espérance, MC Alger face Champions League elimination threat

Espérance Sportive de Tunis, MC Alger and Petro Atlético face crucial tests this weekend as Africa’s leading clubs battle to secure places in the group stage of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League.

The remaining 15 second-leg matches in the second preliminary round will be played from Friday, 23 October, to Sunday, 25 October, with several established sides needing to overturn first-leg deficits to keep their continental campaigns alive.

Four-time champions Espérance host Libya’s Swehly SC on Saturday after suffering a 1-0 defeat in the first leg, leaving the Tunisian giants under pressure to avoid an early exit.

Algerian side MC Alger are in a similarly difficult position as they prepare to host Nigeria’s Rangers International on Friday, having lost the first leg 2-0.

Angola’s Petro Atlético must also overturn a two-goal deficit when they welcome Zimbabwean side Scottland FC, while defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns face a tricky return fixture against Wiliete de Benguela.

Sundowns were held to a goalless draw in Angola and will need to find a way past their opponents in Pretoria to move closer to defending their continental crown.

Another heavyweight encounter is scheduled for Sunday, when Tunisia’s Club Africain host five-time African champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The teams drew 1-1 in the first leg in Lubumbashi, leaving the tie finely balanced.

Tanzania’s Young Africans have already secured their place in the group stage after beating Madagascar’s CFFA 4-1 on Wednesday to complete an emphatic 8-1 aggregate victory.

Their qualification makes them the first team to reach the 16-team group stage, which is scheduled to begin at the end of November.

With 15 places still available, the other contenders will be eager to join the Tanzanian side in the next phase.

Morocco’s RS Berkane are well placed after taking a 2-0 advantage into Saturday’s home match against Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy. Sudanese side Al Hilal Omdurman also hold a two-goal cushion ahead of their meeting with Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna on Sunday.

Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive are close to qualification after recording a 2-0 away victory against Senegal’s Teungueth FC.

Tanzania could have a second representative in the group stage, with Simba SC strongly positioned after their impressive 6-1 away win over Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto on Wednesday.

Egyptian clubs Pyramids FC and Zamalek will also look to complete the job on Saturday after securing 1-0 away victories against South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu and Rwanda’s APR FC respectively.

South Africa’s Orlando Pirates take a narrow advantage into their home match against Namibia’s African Stars after winning the first leg 1-0.

Elsewhere, Côte d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas will seek to use home advantage when they face Morocco’s MAS de Fès following a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

Guinea’s Horoya AC travel to Sudan to face Al Merriekh with a 1-0 lead, while Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou must overturn a 2-1 deficit against Côte d’Ivoire’s FC San Pedro.

The narrow margins in several ties leave the door open for late drama, with both established contenders and ambitious challengers fighting for a place among Africa’s elite.

The 15 winners will join Young Africans in the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27.

Second preliminary round, second-leg fixtures

Friday, 23 October

• Petro Atlético (Angola) v Scottland FC (Zimbabwe)
• Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) v Wiliete de Benguela (Angola)
• Orlando Pirates (South Africa) v African Stars (Namibia)
• MC Alger (Algeria) v Rangers International (Nigeria)

Saturday, 24 October

• Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) v Swehly SC (Libya)
• Al Merriekh (Sudan) v Horoya AC (Guinea)
• Pyramids FC (Egypt) v El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan)
• Zamalek SC (Egypt) v APR FC (Rwanda)
• RS Berkane (Morocco) v Star Sport Academy (Sierra Leone)

Sunday, 25 October

• Simba SC (Tanzania) v 15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea)
• Colombe Sportive (Cameroon) v Teungueth FC (Senegal)
• Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan) v Sidama Bunna (Ethiopia)
• ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) v MAS de Fès (Morocco)
• Club Africain (Tunisia) v TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
• FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania) v FC San Pedro (Côte d’Ivoire)