CAF Champions League: Mazembe face Club Africain as second qualifying round is confirmed

The second qualifying round of the CAF Champions League will feature a meeting between two former winners, TP Mazembe and Club Africain, while Moroccan champions Maghreb de Fes have been drawn against ASEC Mimosas.

The first legs will be played from 16 to 18 October, with the return matches scheduled for 23 to 25 October. The 16 winners will advance to the group stage of the 2026-2027 CAF Champions League.

The three clubs given byes into this round now know their opponents. RS Berkane, semi-finalists last season, will begin against Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy, who edged past Gambia’s Medina United on away goals after two draws, 0-0 and 1-1.

Esperance Tunis, featuring Youcef Belaili, face Asswehly in a North African derby. The Libyan side reached the second round by beating Zanzibar’s KVZ FC 4-0 on aggregate.

Holders Mamelodi Sundowns will play Angola’s Wiliete. The Angolan club defeated Seychelles Foresters 5-0 overall, with new signing Mabululu scoring three of their goals.

TP Mazembe and Club Africain both had to come through the opening round. Mazembe, returning to the competition, overcame Medeama after winning 1-0 in Ghana and 3-1 at home. Club Africain beat Mali’s Djoliba 1-0 in the first leg before drawing 2-2 in the return.

Maghreb de Fes, champions of Morocco, progressed past Burkina Faso’s Rahimo with a 4-1 first-leg victory and a 0-0 draw in the second match. Their next opponents, ASEC Mimosas, needed a late turnaround against ASC Kara. After a 1-1 draw in Togo, the Ivorian side won the return 2-1 after falling behind, completing a 3-2 aggregate success.

The other remaining Ivorian club, San Pedro, will meet FC Nouadhibou. San Pedro eliminated Nigeria’s Rivers United on away goals after draws of 1-1 and 2-2, while the Mauritanian club used the same rule to overcome Uganda’s Vipers following 1-1 and 0-0 draws.

MC Alger face Nigeria’s Rangers. The Algerian club followed a goalless first leg against ASN Nigelec with a 5-0 victory at home. Rangers needed penalties to defeat Benin’s Sobemap after two 1-1 draws, winning the shoot-out 5-4.

MC Alger are the last Algerian side in the competition after JS Saoura were eliminated by Horoya. Saoura won 1-0 at home but lost the return 3-1, handing Horoya a 3-2 aggregate victory. The Guinean club will now play Al Merrikh, who beat Power Dynamos 1-0 in both legs.

Senegal’s Teungueth will meet Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive. Teungueth beat Canchungo twice by 1-0, while Colombe Sportive caused an upset by eliminating last season’s quarter-finalists Stade Malien on penalties after two goalless matches, winning 4-3 in the shoot-out.