Raja CA receive bye into second preliminary round of 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup

Moroccan giants Raja CA have been handed a major advantage ahead of their 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup campaign after receiving a bye and avoiding participation in the first preliminary round of the competition.

The Casablanca-based club will now begin their continental journey at the second preliminary round stage, giving them additional time to prepare before entering the race for a place in the group phase.

The decision places Raja CA among the clubs that will skip the opening qualifying phase, with the exemption understood to be linked to CAF’s competition structure and club rankings.

Raja, one of Africa’s most decorated clubs and a former CAF Confederation Cup champion, will be aiming for another strong continental run as they return to the competition with ambitions of challenging for honours.

The CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round draws for the 2026/27 season are scheduled to take place at CAF headquarters in Cairo, where clubs will discover their opponents for the opening stages of the tournament.

Raja CA’s direct entry into the second preliminary round means the Moroccan side will have fewer qualifying hurdles to overcome as they seek to advance deeper into Africa’s second-tier club competition.