The race for African club football’s most prestigious title is underway after the draw for the Preliminary and Second Preliminary Rounds of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2025/26 was held at Azam Media Studios in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
A record 62 clubs from across the continent will compete in this year’s tournament, highlighting the competition’s growing stature.
Record winners Al Ahly of Egypt and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, both top-ranked sides, received byes into the Second Preliminary Round. Defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt will face Rwandan champions APR in that stage.
The draw has set up several intriguing early fixtures. Sierra Leone’s East End Lions will take on Tunisia’s US Monastirienne, with the winners facing either Ghana’s Bibiani Gold Stars or Algerian giants JS Kabylie.
Liberia’s FC Fassell meet Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf for the right to play Algeria’s MC Alger, while Benin’s Dadjè FC battle Libya’s representatives for a shot at Togo’s ASCK or Morocco’s RS Berkane.
Nigeria’s Remo Stars begin against Comoros’ US Zilimadjou, with the winners to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the second round, while Zimbabwe’s Simba Bhora meet Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs in a tie that could eventually lead to a clash with Tanzania’s Simba SC.
Zambia’s Power Dynamos face Ivorian heavyweights ASEC Mimosas, with the victor awaiting either Namibia’s African Stars or Uganda’s Vipers FC.
Burkina Faso’s Rahimo FC will play Gabon’s AS Mangasport for the chance to meet Niger’s Forces Armées or Tunisian giants Espérance Sportive de Tunis (EST).
In a boost for participation, CAF has confirmed that teams exiting in the first two rounds will each receive USD 100,000 to cover logistical costs — an initiative that has helped produce a record number of entrants this season.
The Preliminary Round kicks off with first-leg ties from 19–21 September 2025 and second legs from 26–28 September. The Second Preliminary Round follows from 17–19 October (first legs) and 24–26 October (second legs). The Group Stage begins on 21 November, with the knockout phase starting on 13 March 2026.