Wiliete SC and Club Africain have eliminated holders Mamelodi Sundowns and five-time champions TP Mazembe respectively to reach the 2026-27 CAF Champions League group stage.
The 16 qualifiers will discover their opponents when the draw is held in Cairo on Wednesday, 28 October at 12:00 GMT (13:00 in Brazzaville).
Wiliete SC advanced despite failing to win either leg against Mamelodi Sundowns. After a goalless first leg in Angola, the sides drew 1-1 in Pretoria on Friday, 23 October, with the Angolan club progressing on away goals.
Mamelodi Sundowns took the lead through Tashreeq Matthews, but Mabululu equalised for Wiliete SC after half-time. The South Africans needed another goal to overturn the tie but could not find one.
Founded in 2018, Wiliete SC have reached the group stage for the first time. Their next challenge will be to maintain the momentum of their upset against opponents who will be confirmed by Wednesday’s draw.
Club Africain also overcame a team with a distinguished continental record. They beat TP Mazembe 1-0 in Rades on Sunday after drawing 1-1 in Lubumbashi, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory and denying the five-time African champions a place in the group stage.
The decisive goal came shortly before half-time, and Club Africain held on despite TP Mazembe’s attempts to equalise after the interval. The result marks the Tunisian club’s return to the last 16 and underlines how quickly a highly regarded side can be eliminated over two legs.
Esperance de Tunis recovered from a 1-0 defeat by Swehly SC in Libya by winning the return match by the same score. The tie was settled by penalties, with the Tunisian side prevailing 3-1.
MC Alger and Petro Atletico both overturned two-goal deficits. MC Alger defeated Rangers International of Nigeria 3-0, while Petro Atletico recorded the same score against Scottland FC of Zimbabwe in Luanda to progress 3-2 on aggregate.
Angola therefore has two representatives in the group stage, with Wiliete SC arriving as the surprise qualifiers and Petro Atletico completing a successful recovery.
Orlando Pirates progressed 5-0 on aggregate against African Stars after a 4-0 second-leg victory. Al Hilal Omdurman defeated Sidama Bunna 4-0 overall, while Colombe Sportive beat Teungueth FC 3-0 on aggregate.
MAS de Fes edged ASEC Mimosas 3-2 overall after winning the second leg 2-1. FC Nouadhibou overturned FC San Pedro by the same aggregate score, and Horoya AC required penalties to overcome Al Merriekh after a 1-1 total draw.
The draw will take place at the Egyptian Football Federation headquarters, with the 16 clubs divided into four groups of four. The group stage is scheduled to begin in November, and the top two teams in each group will reach the quarter-finals.
The winners will receive a prize of six million dollars. Eleven countries are represented: Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania and Tunisia each have two clubs, while six other nations have one.
