CAF Champions League: Mamelodi Sundowns eliminated as 16 clubs qualify for group stage

The 16 clubs that will compete in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League group stage have been confirmed following the conclusion of the second preliminary round, setting up Wednesday’s draw in Cairo, Egypt.

The final round of qualifying matches produced several major surprises, most notably the elimination of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns by Angolan side Wiliete SC.

Former African champions Espérance, Zamalek and MC Alger also survived difficult encounters to secure their places in the next phase of the continent’s premier club competition.

The group stage draw will take place at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo on Wednesday, 28 October, at 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT).

The 16 qualified teams will be divided into four groups of four, with the group stage scheduled to begin in November.

Sundowns suffer shock exit

One of the biggest talking points of the preliminary rounds was Sundowns’ unexpected elimination by Wiliete SC.

The Angolan club, founded in 2018, held the South African giants to a 1-1 draw in Pretoria after the first leg ended goalless in Lubango.

Wiliete progressed on away goals, delivering a major upset and ending the defending champions’ hopes of retaining their continental crown.

Despite Sundowns’ departure, South Africa will be represented in the group stage by Orlando Pirates, who secured a commanding 5-0 aggregate victory over Namibia’s African Stars. Pirates won the return leg 4-0.

Angola will also have two representatives, with Petro Atlético joining Wiliete after producing a strong comeback against Zimbabwe’s Scottland FC.

Petro overturned a two-goal deficit by winning the second leg 3-0 in Luanda to advance 3-2 on aggregate.

MC Alger, Espérance survive difficult ties

Algerian side MC Alger produced one of the most impressive comebacks of the round, scoring three unanswered second-half goals to overturn a 2-0 first-leg defeat against Nigeria’s Rangers International.

The result ensured MC Alger’s progression and kept their ambitions of winning the continental title alive.

Tunisia’s Espérance also had to work hard to secure qualification against Libya’s Swehly SC. After losing the first leg 1-0, the four-time African champions overturned the deficit before winning 3-1 on penalties.

Fellow Tunisian club Club Africain also celebrated a significant return to the group stage after eliminating DR Congo’s TP Mazembe, five-time winners of the competition.

Club Africain won the second leg 1-0 at home to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory.

Egypt and Morocco secure two places each

Egypt will have two representatives in the group stage, with Zamalek and Pyramids FC both progressing.

Five-time champions Zamalek defeated Rwanda’s APR FC, while Pyramids secured their place after overcoming South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu.

Morocco will also have two clubs in the competition’s next phase through RS Berkane and MAS de Fès.

Berkane advanced comfortably with a 3-0 aggregate victory over Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy.

MAS de Fès, meanwhile, secured qualification in dramatic fashion, scoring a late goal to beat Côte d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas 2-1 and progress 3-2 on aggregate.

Tanzania, Sudan and West Africa represented

Tanzania will once again have two clubs in the group stage, with Simba SC and Young Africans among the teams to have secured qualification.

Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman also progressed convincingly, completing a 4-0 aggregate victory over Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna.

Cameroon will be represented by Colombe Sportive, who defeated Senegal’s Teungueth FC 3-0 on aggregate to book their place.

Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou overturned a first-leg defeat against Côte d’Ivoire’s FC San Pedro to win 3-2 on aggregate and reach the group stage for the second time in their history.

Guinean club Horoya AC completed the line-up after eliminating Sudan’s Al Merriekh on penalties following a 1-1 aggregate draw.

Record prize money at stake

Attention will now turn to Wednesday’s draw, which will determine the groups and the opponents each club must overcome to reach the knockout stage.

The competition carries a record prize of $6 million for the eventual winners, underlining the financial and sporting stakes involved.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the quarter-finals, bringing the continent’s leading clubs closer to the title.

With established giants such as Zamalek, Espérance, MC Alger and Orlando Pirates among the qualifiers, alongside emerging challengers such as Wiliete SC and Colombe Sportive, the group stage promises a competitive battle for continental supremacy.

Qualified clubs for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League group stage

• Al Hilal Omdurman — Sudan
• Club Africain — Tunisia
• Colombe Sportive — Cameroon
• Espérance — Tunisia
• FC Nouadhibou — Mauritania
• Horoya AC — Guinea
• MAS de Fès — Morocco
• MC Alger — Algeria
• Orlando Pirates — South Africa
• Petro Atlético — Angola
• Pyramids FC — Egypt
• RS Berkane — Morocco
• Simba SC — Tanzania
• Wiliete SC — Angola
• Young Africans — Tanzania
• Zamalek SC — Egypt

The draw in Cairo will mark the start of the next stage of the race for Africa’s most prestigious club trophy, with the 16 qualifiers now preparing for the challenge of navigating the group stage and securing a place in the quarter-finals.