Sundowns, Al Ahly and Mazembe miss out as CAF Champions League hierarchy is shaken

The 2026-27 CAF Champions League group stage will take place without several of Africa’s most established clubs after a series of surprising results in the preliminary rounds.

The biggest shock is the elimination of holders Mamelodi Sundowns, who had appeared in the previous 11 group stages. The South African side were knocked out by Wiliete SC, an Angolan club founded in 2018 that will reach this stage of the competition for the first time.

After a goalless first leg, Sundowns took the lead in the return match in Pretoria. Mabululu equalised for Wiliete, however, and the game ended 1-1. That result was enough to send the Angolan side through under the away-goals rule.

The outcome represents a historic qualification for Wiliete and a particularly significant failure for Sundowns, who began the tie as defending champions. It also underlined how quickly a two-legged tie can turn against a favourite, even when the decisive match is played at home.

Al Ahly’s absence came about in different circumstances. The Egyptian club, the competition’s record winners with 12 titles, failed to finish in a qualifying position in their domestic league. They will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup this season instead.

TP Mazembe were eliminated on the pitch, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Club Africain. The Tunisian side will therefore return to the group stage, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo club, who have won the African title five times, miss out.

Morocco will also have no representative among the 16 group-stage teams after Wydad Casablanca, Raja Casablanca and AS FAR were eliminated. AS FAR, who reached the final of the previous edition, will also move into the CAF Confederation Cup.

Favourites forced to fight

Several experienced clubs only secured their places after difficult ties. Esperance de Tunis overturned a first-leg deficit against Swehly SC before progressing in a penalty shoot-out.

MC Alger also had to recover from a setback, scoring three times in the second half to overturn a 2-0 defeat by Rangers International. Both clubs avoided the fate of Sundowns and TP Mazembe, but their progress showed how small margins can decide a preliminary-round tie.

For the leading clubs, these early rounds are not merely a formality. A poor first-leg result can quickly threaten an entire Champions League campaign.

The absence of Sundowns, TP Mazembe and Al Ahly does not necessarily signal the end of the continent’s traditional power structure. Pyramids FC, Zamalek, Esperance de Tunis and RS Berkane remain among the serious contenders.

However, their departures have created an opportunity for clubs that have occupied the spotlight less often. Wiliete SC must now attempt to build on its historic result against more experienced opponents.

Africa’s club hierarchy will not be overturned in a single edition, but this campaign has already reinforced one point: prestige can strengthen ambition, but it cannot replace results.