The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has published the official schedule for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup seasons, setting out the full timeline for the continent’s premier club competitions.
The announcement provides clubs, leagues, broadcasters and supporters with a structured pathway for the campaign, which will run from the preliminary rounds in September 2026 through to the finals in May 2027.
According to the calendar, the opening preliminary round will take place between 4 and 13 September 2026, marking the beginning of the qualification process for both competitions.
The second preliminary round is then scheduled for 16 to 25 October 2026, as participating clubs compete for places in the group stage of Africa’s two leading inter-club tournaments.
The group stage is set to begin on 27 November 2026 and will continue until 23 January 2027. Across this period, teams will play six matchdays, with the results determining which sides progress to the knockout phase.
The scheduling places a significant portion of the group stage over the festive period and into the early weeks of the new year, a period that is traditionally demanding for club sides balancing domestic and continental commitments.
After the conclusion of the group stage, the competition will move into the knockout rounds. The quarter-final stage is scheduled to be played between 26 February and 7 March 2027.
The remaining clubs will then compete in the semi-finals, which are set for 9 to 17 April 2027. These ties will decide which teams advance to the final stage of the competition.
CAF has confirmed that the finals for both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup will take place within a window between 9 and 31 May 2027. However, the governing body has yet to announce the exact dates for either final.
The release of the full calendar is expected to assist stakeholders across African football in planning ahead for the season. Clubs can now structure their preparations, while domestic leagues and broadcasters gain clarity on scheduling and coverage requirements.
The publication also signals the continued growth and increasing organisation of CAF’s club competitions, which have gained prominence and competitiveness in recent years.
With the roadmap now confirmed, attention will shift to qualification campaigns across the continent as clubs aim to secure their place in the group stages.
Teams will begin assembling squads and preparing strategies in anticipation of a demanding season that will span several months of high-intensity continental football.
As the 2026/27 campaign approaches, clubs across Africa will be targeting success in both competitions, with the Champions League and Confederation Cup once again offering the continent’s leading sides the chance to compete for major silverware on the international stage.
