CAF confirms dates for 2026-27 African club competition qualifiers

CAF has confirmed the dates for the opening qualifying rounds of the 2026-27 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, while also announcing further discussions over plans for a proposed African Nations League.

The first legs of the preliminary rounds in both competitions will be played between 4 and 6 September 2026, with the return fixtures scheduled for 11 to 13 September.

The draw has set up a meeting between Pyramids FC and Kenya’s Gor Mahia in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. Zamalek will face Djibouti side AS Port in the same stage of the competition.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, ZED will play Djibouti’s Telecom. Al Ahly were spared a tie in the preliminary round of the tournament after being exempted from that stage.

CAF made the announcement in an official statement outlining the schedule for the new club season.

The governing body also said progress had been made on the proposed African Nations League, although no launch date or competition format was announced.

“​​The mechanism of the competition was discussed within the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football, and this project is part of the Confederation’s broader strategy aimed at creating more meaningful and commercially attractive international football for its member associations,” CAF said.

The proposed Nations League is being considered as part of CAF’s wider plans for international football on the continent. The organisation did not provide further details about how the competition would operate or which teams would take part.

CAF also revealed that it was examining the feasibility of creating a Women’s Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The aim would be to launch the tournament next year, provided the necessary sporting and organisational requirements are met.

CAF said the proposed competition would strengthen its investment in women’s football and offer another important competitive pathway for young female players across Africa.

“The proposed Women’s Under-17 tournament would strengthen the Confederation of African Football’s investment in women’s football and create another important competitive pathway for young female players across the continent,” the statement added.

The preliminary-round dates mean teams involved in the 2026-27 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will begin their campaigns in early September, with qualification decided over two legs. Pyramids FC, Gor Mahia, Zamalek, AS Port, ZED and Telecom are among the clubs involved at that stage, while Al Ahly will enter the Confederation Cup without having to play a preliminary-round tie.