The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the lineup for the qualifying rounds of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, confirming that Enugu Rangers and Rivers United will represent Nigeria in Africa‘s premier club competition.
The two Nigerian clubs secured places among the continent’s elite and will begin their quest for continental glory from the preliminary qualifying stage, where they will battle for a place in the lucrative group phase.
Twelve Nations Receive Two Qualification Slots
CAF’s official list, released on Monday, shows that 24 clubs from 12 member associations have earned two qualification places based on their football rankings and recent performances.
Among the countries with two representatives are Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Tunisia.
These nations will each field two clubs in the opening qualifying rounds as they compete for progression into the next stage of the tournament.
African Heavyweights Return to the Continental Stage
The competition will once again feature several of Africa’s most decorated clubs.
Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns return to defend their crown alongside fellow South African side Orlando Pirates.
Egyptian football will be represented by Zamalek and Pyramids, while DR Congo’s TP Mazembe also returns with hopes of adding another continental title to its rich history.
Other notable participants include Esperance of Tunisia, Young Africans and Simba of Tanzania, Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane, Algeria’s Mouloudia Alger, and Côte d’Ivoire giants ASEC Mimosas.
Forty More Nations Receive One Place Each
Beyond the countries allocated two entries, CAF confirmed that another 40 football associations will each send one club into the competition.
The list includes well-known sides such as Ghana’s Medeama, Kenya’s Gor Mahia, Guinea’s Horoya, Rwanda’s APR, Uganda’s Vipers, Zambia’s Power Dynamos and Zimbabwe’s Scotland.
These clubs will join the qualification campaign as they seek to earn a place in the expanded group stage.
Three Countries Still Await Final Confirmation
CAF noted that three member associations have yet to officially determine their representatives because their domestic league campaigns are still ongoing.
The football governing body identified Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Somalia as the remaining nations yet to confirm participants.
As things stand, 15 de Agosto or Leones Vegetarianos lead the race in Equatorial Guinea, Canchungo tops the standings in Guinea-Bissau, while Heegan currently leads the Somali league.
Qualification Campaign Begins in September
The road to the group stage will begin with the first preliminary round, scheduled to take place between September 4 and September 6.
The return fixtures are expected to follow a week later from September 11 to September 13.
Teams that successfully advance will move into the second qualifying round, which CAF has scheduled for October 16-18, with return matches set for October 23-25.
Group Stage Runs Into Early 2027
The 2026/27 group phase is scheduled to kick off at the end of November, with opening fixtures taking place between November 27 and November 29.
Additional rounds of matches will be played in early December before the competition resumes after the holiday period with fixtures in January 2027.
The six rounds of group matches are expected to conclude on January 22-24, determining the eight clubs that will progress to the knockout stages.
Knockout Battles Set the Stage for the Final
CAF has mapped out the remainder of the tournament, with the quarter-finals scheduled across late February and early March.
The semi-finals will follow in April, leaving the surviving clubs one step away from continental glory.
The final of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League is expected to be played in May 2027, although CAF has yet to announce the exact date for the title-deciding showdown.
