CAF announces lineup for 2026/27 Champions League preliminary rounds, featuring Rangers and Rivers United among participants

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The Confederation of African Football has confirmed the list of clubs that will compete in the qualifying rounds of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, with Nigeria to be represented by Enugu Rangers and Rivers United.

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According to the list released on Monday, posted on its webiste, CAF disclosed that 24 clubs from 12 countries will enter the competition with two representatives each.

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They include Algeria’s Mouloudia Alger and JS Saoura, Angola’s Petro Luanda and Wiliete, Côte d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas and San Pedro, DR Congo’s TP Mazembe and Aigles, Egypt’s Zamalek and Pyramids, Mali’s Djoliba and Stade Malien, Morocco’s MAS Fes and Renaissance Berkane.

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Others are South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Sudan’s Al Hilal and Al Merrikh, Tanzania’s Young Africans and Simba, and Tunisia’s Club Africain and Esperance.

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Nigeria’s representatives, Enugu Rangers and Rivers United, will begin their campaign in the preliminary rounds alongside the other clubs from the two-slot nations.

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CAF also confirmed that 40 countries will have a single representative in the competition. Among them are Medeama of Ghana, Gor Mahia of Kenya, Horoya of Guinea, APR of Rwanda, Vipers of Uganda, Power Dynamos of Zambia and Scotland of Zimbabwe.

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The continental football body noted that the representatives of Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Somalia are yet to be confirmed as their domestic leagues remain unfinished. The current league leaders are 15 de Agosto/Leones Vegetarianos (Equatorial Guinea), Canchungo (Guinea-Bissau) and Heegan (Somalia).

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According to CAF, the first preliminary round of the competition will be played between September 4 and 6, with the return legs scheduled for September 11 to 13.

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The African football body stated that the second preliminary round will take place from October 16 to 18 and October 23 to 25.

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The group stage will begin on November 27-29 and continue through December 4-6, December 18-20, January 8-10, January 15-17 and January 22-24.

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The quarter-finals are slated for February 26-28 and March 5-7, while the semi-finals will be held on April 9-11 and April 16-18. The final of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League is scheduled for May, with the exact date yet to be announced.

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