CAF Champions League Second Preliminary Round Kicks Off This Weekend
Thirty-two clubs begin their pursuit of the group stage this weekend as the Second Preliminary Round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 gets underway from 16 to 18 October, cafonline.com reported.
Defending Champions and Continental Heavyweights Open Campaigns
Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns travel to Angola to face Wiliete, who advanced after defeating Seychelles’ Foresters FC 5-0 on aggregate in the opening round. Four-time champions Espérance Sportive de Tunis start their tournament in Libya against Al-Swehly, while Pyramids FC of Egypt meet South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu following a convincing performance in the first preliminary round.
One of the standout fixtures brings five-time African champions TP Mazembe up against Tunisia’s Club Africain in Lubumbashi. Both teams aim to establish an advantage before the return leg in Tunisia between 23 and 25 October, when the 16 clubs advancing to the group stage will be confirmed.
Regional Matchups and Away Fixtures Across the Continent
South Africa’s Orlando Pirates face African Stars, and Morocco’s RS Berkane begin their campaign away against Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy after receiving a bye into this round. Egyptian giants Zamalek travel to Rwanda to meet APR FC following a 6-1 aggregate win over Djibouti’s AS Port.
Tanzania’s Young Africans travel to Madagascar to play CFFA, while Simba SC host Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto. In other fixtures, Nigeria’s Rangers International welcome Algeria’s MC Alger, Morocco’s Maghreb Fès face Côte d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas, and San Pedro host Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou.
Guinea’s Horoya AC take on Sudanese giants Al-Merriekh, Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna meet Al Hilal Omdurman of Sudan, Zimbabwe’s Scottland FC play Petro Atlético of Angola, and Senegal’s Teungueth FC face Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive.
To assist with travel and logistical expenses, clubs eliminated in the preliminary rounds will receive USD 100,000 through CAF’s financial support measures.