CAF Confederation Cup 2026-27: Preliminary round draw sets up exciting African clashes

Clubs from across the continent have learned their path towards the group stage of the 2026-27 CAF Confederation Cup after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the draw for the competition’s first and second preliminary rounds.

The draw, held on Wednesday, mapped out the route to the group phase, with dozens of clubs from every region of Africa discovering both their opening opponents and the potential fixtures awaiting them should they progress.

For many teams, the preliminary rounds represent the first hurdle in a campaign that could ultimately lead to continental silverware, while several of Africa’s established clubs will enter the competition in the second preliminary round after receiving byes.

From West Africa to East Africa, Southern Africa and North Africa, the draw has produced several intriguing ties involving clubs seeking to make their mark on the continental stage.

One of the standout fixtures from the first preliminary round sees Ghana’s Nations FC travel to face Mali’s Diarra AC. Should the Ghanaian side advance, they will meet the winner of the tie between Niger’s AS SAAM and Togo’s ASKO de Kara for a place in the group stage.

The draw also produced several high-profile encounters involving clubs with considerable continental experience.

Nigeria’s Shooting Stars will face Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien, while Burkina Faso’s Les Douanes have been paired with Guinea’s Hafia Conakry.

Elsewhere, FC Amadou Diallo of Ivory Coast will take on Sierra Leone’s East End Lions, with the winner progressing to meet either Shooting Stars or CS Sfaxien in the second preliminary round.

Other notable first-round fixtures include Sudan’s Al Ahly Madani against Kenya’s Tusker FC, Vitesse FC of Burkina Faso versus Mali’s Real Bamako, and South Africa’s Durban City taking on Burundi’s Rukinzo FC.

The opening round also features clubs from emerging football nations, highlighting the broad geographical reach of CAF’s second-tier club competition.

Among the fixtures are Mogadishu City of Somalia against Uganda’s Kitara FC, Zed FC of Egypt against Telecom FC of Djibouti, Green Mamba of Eswatini against Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto, and DC Virunga of the Democratic Republic of Congo facing Seychelles side Bazar Brothers.

The second preliminary round could see some of Africa’s most successful clubs enter the competition.

Egyptian giants Al Ahly are scheduled to face the winner of the tie between Mogadishu City and Kitara FC, while Tanzania’s Azam FC await either Zed FC or Telecom FC.

Algerian clubs USM Alger and CR Belouizdad also enter in the second preliminary round, where they are due to face the winners of Panthers versus ASPAC and Les Douanes versus Hafia Conakry respectively.

Moroccan heavyweights AS FAR and Raja Casablanca have also received byes into the second preliminary round.

AS FAR will meet the winner of the clash between Chad’s ASBSI and Ivory Coast’s Kokorogou, while Raja Casablanca will take on either Nigeria’s El Kanemi Warriors or Benin’s Oudjib.

South African side Kaizer Chiefs also begin their campaign in the second preliminary round, where they will face either Zambia’s Red Arrows or Congo’s FC Rouge.

For clubs across Africa, the draw provides a clearer picture of the challenges that lie ahead as they seek qualification for the lucrative group stage.

The preliminary rounds will be played over two legs, with the first preliminary round scheduled for 4-6 September and 11-13 September.

The second preliminary round will follow between 16-18 October for the first legs and 23-25 October for the return fixtures.

Only the winners from the second preliminary round will advance to the group stage of the 2026-27 CAF Confederation Cup.

The draw also reinforces the increasingly competitive nature of African club football, with representatives from across the continent given the opportunity to compete against established powers.

For countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and several others, the preliminary rounds will provide an early measure of their clubs’ continental ambitions.

Mubarak Haruna

Mubarak Haruna is an emerging force in African football journalism, recognised for his speed, accuracy and ability to break major stories. He specialises in breaking news, match coverage and multimedia storytelling across radio, television and digital platforms.He holds a degree in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism and has developed his craft within some of Ghana’s leading media organisations. Mubarak has worked with the Multimedia Group, where he served as a sports radio and television presenter at Joy FM, while also contributing as a writer for Myjoyonline.com.Known for his sharp instincts and ability to deliver timely football stories, Mubarak has gained growing recognition for his impactful reporting and dedication to the profession.He is currently the Deputy Managing Editor of African.Football, where he plays a key role in driving editorial operations, breaking major stories and supporting the platform’s mission to deliver fast, reliable and high-quality African football content to a global audience.

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