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The race for African club football’s most prestigious crown has officially kicked off following the draw for the Preliminary and Second Preliminary Rounds of the  CAF Champions League 2025/26, held at Azam Media Studios in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Saturday.

A record 62 clubs from across the continent will feature in this season’s campaign, underscoring the competition’s growing appeal.

Record title winners Al Ahly of Egypt and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, both top-ranked sides, have been handed byes into the Second Preliminary Round where defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt will face Rwanda’s APR.

The draw also delivered several tantalising fixtures in the early stages.

North African powerhouses could collide early as Sierra Leone’s East End Lions will face Tunisia’s US Monastirienne, with the winners earning a shot at the winners of the clash between Ghana’s Bibiani Gold Stars and Algerian giants JS Kabylie.

Liberia’s FC Fassell will look to overcome Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf for a potential meeting with Algeria’s MC Alger, while Benin’s Dadjè FC and Libya’s representative, Libya 1, clash for the chance to face Togo’s ASCK or Morocco’s RS Berkane.

Elsewhere, Nigeria’s Remo Stars meet Comoros’ US Zilimadjou for the right to play Sundowns, while Zimbabwe’s Simba Bhora tackle Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs in a tie that leads to a showdown with Botswana’s Gaborone United — and ultimately Tanzania’s Simba SC in the next round.

Zambia’s Power Dynamos begin against Ivorian heavyweights ASEC Mimosas with the winner of the match between Namibia’s African Stars and Vipers FC of Uganda waiting in the wings.

Rahimo FC of Burkina Faso will face Gabon’s AS Mangasport with the winners taking on the victor in Niger’s Forces Armées meeting Tunisian giants Espérance Sportive de Tunis (EST).

Teams that exit in the first two rounds will this season receive USD 100,000 to cover their logistical costs as CAF seeks to encourage more clubs to take part, which is reflected in the record number of teams registered for the 2025/26 season.

The Preliminary Round kicks off with first-leg matches between 19–21 September 2025 and second-leg matches between 26–28 September 2025. The Second Preliminary Round follows from 17–19 October (first leg) and 24–26 October (second leg).

The Group Stage begins on 21 November 2025, with the knockout phase set to start on 13 March 2026.

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By KUNLE SOLAJA.

Nigerian champions Remo Stars will begin their 2025/26 CAF Champions League campaign against US Zilimadjou of Comoros in the preliminary round, a familiar pairing for Nigerian clubs.

US Zilimadjou were the same opponents Enugu Rangers faced at this stage in the 2023/24 season, with both legs played in Nigeria due to the Comoros side lacking an approved home ground.

Victory for Remo Stars will set up a daunting second-round clash against continental heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, owned by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe.

While Remo Stars know their path, fellow Nigerian representatives Rivers United must wait for the conclusion of DR Congo’s Linafoot League to know their opponents. Rivers United will play the first leg away.

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Nigeria’s quartet of Remo Stars, Rivers United, Abia Warriors, and Kwara United will each be guaranteed a financial cushion of USD 100,000 as they embark on their quest in this season’s CAF Interclub competitions.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rolled out the incentive to cover logistical expenses for teams eliminated in the first two rounds of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League, a move designed to encourage wider participation across the continent.

The policy is already yielding results, with a record 62 clubs registering for the tournament, which kicks off with the preliminary stage next month. The first-leg matches are scheduled for September 19–21, with the return legs taking place from September 26–28.

Holders Al Ahly of Egypt and South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns have been handed automatic byes to the second round, while the remaining 60 teams have been seeded into pots according to CAF’s club ranking system. Geographical factors have also been considered to ease travel demands on participating clubs.

The expanded support initiative is part of CAF’s broader strategy to strengthen club football and make participation in its elite competitions more sustainable for teams from all regions of Africa.

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