Kaizer Chiefs will begin their 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup campaign in the second preliminary round after receiving a first-round bye in Thursday’s draw in Cairo, Egypt.
The Betway Premiership club will face either Red Arrows of Zambia or FC Rouge of Madagascar for a place in the next stage of the competition.
The two clubs will first meet over two legs in the opening preliminary round. The winner of that tie will then play Kaizer Chiefs, with another two-legged contest determining who progresses further in the tournament.
The draw gives Amakhosi a later start to their continental campaign and removes the need to negotiate an additional qualifying tie. They are expected to begin their involvement later this month.
Kaizer Chiefs are one of two Betway Premiership representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup. Durban City will enter in the first preliminary round, where they have been drawn against Burundian club Rukinzo.
The Soweto-based side will return to the competition looking to improve on last season’s performance, when they made their comeback to African football.
Kaizer Chiefs reached the group stage in the previous campaign after being placed in Group D alongside Egyptian clubs Zamalek and Al Masry, as well as ZESCO United.
Although Amakhosi produced a number of encouraging displays, they finished third in the group and narrowly failed to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
They will now aim to progress beyond that point in the 2026/27 edition. The club are rebuilding under new coach Fernando da Cruz, who brings continental experience to the role.
The first-round exemption could prove useful as Kaizer Chiefs prepare for their return to African competition, allowing them additional time to work with the new coach and squad before their opening tie.
The draw also confirms the route that stands between Amakhosi and the next phase of the CAF Confederation Cup. Their opponents will be decided by the outcome of the Red Arrows-FC Rouge tie, before Kaizer Chiefs enter the tournament at the second preliminary-round stage.
The club’s continental return last season marked an important moment after their absence from African football. However, their third-place finish in Group D prevented them from reaching the knockout rounds, leaving them determined to make further progress this time.
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