The 2025/26 season of the CAF Champions League  officially gets underway this Friday with the kick-off of the Preliminary stages of Africa’s premier continental club competition.

This season marks a historic milestone with a record number of 62 clubs registered for the 2025/26 season, underscoring CAF’s ongoing efforts to broaden participation and enhance the competitiveness of African football.

To further support clubs across the continent, CAF has introduced a new financial initiative: teams eliminated in the first two preliminary rounds will each receive USD 100,000 to assist in covering logistical expenses.

This measure is designed to encourage broader representation and strengthen the foundation of the competitions.

Most of the Preliminary Round first-leg fixtures will be contested between 19–21 September 2025, with the second-leg matches scheduled for 26–28 September 2025.

Victorious clubs will progress to the Second Preliminary Round, set for 17–19 October (first leg) and 24–26 October 2025 (second leg).

The Group Stage will commence on 21 November 2025, culminating in the knockout phase, which is scheduled to begin on 13 March 2026.

While some of the continent’s club heavyweights will not feature this weekend, the draw which was conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania last month has produced several highly anticipated encounters.

Winners of last season’s CAF Confederation Cup, RS Berkane will contest the CAF Champions League this season after clinching the Moroccan championship. They face Togo’s ASC Kara in their opening encounter.

Last season’s semi-finalists, Orlando Pirates face a tricky test against Lesotho’s Lioli FC, while Zambia’s Power Dynamos meet Ivorian heavyweights, Asec Mimosas.

The CAF Champions League will be beamed live across all CAF’s official broadcast partners, with exclusive behind the scenes content curated across all CAF Digital platforms, including highlights packages on CAF’s Official YouTube channel, CAF TV.

With enhanced financial support, historic levels of participation, and an exciting programme of fixtures, the 2025/26 CAF Interclub season is set to reinforce its reputation as the pinnacle of African club football.

For full list of fixtures, CLICK HERE.

-CAFonline

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Click HERE for the full list of fixtures.

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.

Cafonline

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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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