Mamelodi Sundowns remain Africa’s highest-ranked club in the latest CAF Club Rankings, with Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs also included ahead of the 2026/27 continental campaign.
The reigning CAF Champions League winners top the standings with 73 points, seven clear of Egyptian giants Al Ahly, who are second on 66 points. Sundowns’ position underlines their status as the team to beat in African club football as they prepare for another CAF Champions League campaign.
Orlando Pirates are South Africa’s second-highest ranked club, despite being eliminated in the second preliminary round of last season’s CAF Champions League. The Buccaneers are 19th in the continental standings with 20 points.
Stellenbosch FC are the next-best placed South African side, sitting 21st with 17 points. Their ranking has been built through recent appearances in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Kaizer Chiefs are ranked 38th with five points. The Amakhosi improved their CAF coefficient after returning to continental competition last season and reaching the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
The rankings are based on performances in recent CAF inter-club competitions and are used to determine seedings for future continental draws.
Further down the list, Marumo Gallants are 37th with six points, while Sekhukhune United are 56th on three points. AmaZulu FC occupy 69th place with two points, and SuperSport United are 71st on 1.5 points.
The 2026/27 season gives South Africa’s leading clubs another opportunity to improve their positions. Mamelodi Sundowns will look to consolidate top spot, while Orlando Pirates will attempt to recover from their early continental exit last season.
Kaizer Chiefs will also have the chance to move higher in the rankings when they compete in the CAF Confederation Cup. With Sundowns, Pirates and Chiefs all involved in CAF competitions, South African clubs can strengthen both their individual standings and the country’s overall reputation on the continent.
The latest draw details for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup are also of interest to the participating clubs as they prepare for the new campaign.
Sundowns’ lead provides a strong starting point for the country’s continental challenge, but the positions of Pirates and Chiefs show the distance they still have to cover to reach the top of the African rankings. Pirates are 19th, while Chiefs are outside the top 35, leaving both clubs with clear scope for improvement through their performances this season.
The rankings therefore offer an early measure of the strength of South African football before the 2026/27 campaign begins. Sundowns enter the season as continental leaders, while Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will aim to climb the table with extended runs in their respective CAF competitions.
Readers are invited to share their views on whether one of the three clubs can become champions. A R5,000 prize is also available through The South African’s Winter Reader Survey.
