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CAF Confederation Cup Draw: Giants Secure Favorable Paths

The slips of paper fell in Cairo, and with them the first contours of the 2026–2027 CAF Confederation Cup took shape. Fifty-six clubs. One trophy. Four million dollars for the winner – and a calendar that will test depth, planning and nerve.

Inside CAF’s headquarters in the Egyptian capital on Thursday, the draw offered Africa’s heavyweights exactly what they crave at this stage: control. No shocks, no early collisions between giants. At least not yet.

Big Guns Get a Head Start

Eight clubs sit above the early scramble, rewarded by the continental ranking with a bye straight to the second preliminary round: Al Ahly of Egypt, Azam of Tanzania, USM Alger and CR Belouizdad of Algeria, Raja and AS FAR of Morocco, Maniema Union of DR Congo, and Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa.

They watch the first preliminary round from a distance, while 48 other teams fight across 24 two-legged ties for the right to join them in a 32-club second stage.

For Al Ahly, Africa’s historic standard-bearers, the route begins against the winner of Mogadishu City of Somalia v Kitara of Uganda. On paper, a soft landing. In reality, a classic early-season trap: unfamiliar opponents, difficult travel, and a tie their fans will expect them to dominate from the first whistle.

Raja, another continental heavyweight, will meet whoever emerges from El Kanemi Warriors of Nigeria v Oudjeb of Benin. AS FAR await the winner of ASBSI of Chad v Kokoroko of Ivory Coast, a pairing that underlines how wide the Confederation Cup’s net now stretches.

USM Alger, the defending champions after edging Zamalek of Egypt on penalties in last season’s final, will face the winner of Panthers of Ethiopia v ASPAC of Benin. CR Belouizdad, increasingly ambitious in continental competition, draw the qualifier from Douanes of Burkina Faso v Hafia Conakry of Guinea.

Azam of Tanzania will be tested by the winner of ZED of Egypt v Ittihad Djibouti, while Kaizer Chiefs will not enter the fray until they meet the victor of Red Arrows of Zambia v FC Rouge of Congo.

Maniema Union of DR Congo, another of the seeded sides, step in against the winner of University of Namibia (UNAM) v Kabuscorp de Palanca of Angola.

The names are varied, the levels different, but the message is clear: the Confederation Cup is no longer a quiet backwater. It is a continental grind.

First Preliminary Round: A Continental Scrap

Before the aristocrats arrive, the competition will already be crackling across the map.

From 4 to 6 September, the first legs of the opening preliminary round will be played, with the returns between 11 and 13 September. For many clubs, this is their season’s defining fortnight.

  • Mogadishu City of Somalia v Kitara of Uganda.
  • ZED of Egypt v Ittihad Djibouti.
  • Al Hilal Al Sahel of Sudan v Welwalo Adigrat of Ethiopia.
  • KMKM of Zanzibar v Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya.

Each tie carries its own story: travel, climate, packed local grounds, and the knowledge that a meeting with a continental giant may lie just beyond.

Al Ahly Madani of Sudan face Tusker of Kenya, while Al Ghazala Wau of South Sudan meet Singida Black Stars of Tanzania. Panthers of Ethiopia host ASPAC of Benin, ASBSI of Chad take on Kokoroko of Ivory Coast, and Douanes of Burkina Faso clash with Hafia Conakry of Guinea.

West Africa throws up heavyweight names and historic clubs. El Kanemi Warriors of Nigeria face Oudjeb of Benin. FC Amadou Diallo of Ivory Coast meet East End Lions of Sierra Leone. Shooting Stars of Nigeria, steeped in continental history, take on CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, themselves no strangers to African success.

Mostakbal Gabes of Tunisia play Diambars of Senegal, Vitesse of Burkina Faso meet Real Bamako of Mali, Diarra of Mali face Nations of Ghana, and AS Sam of Niger go up against ASKO Kara of Togo.

Southern and Central Africa are just as busy. University of Namibia (UNAM) meet Kabuscorp de Palanca of Angola, Red Arrows of Zambia take on FC Rouge of Congo, Durban City of South Africa face Rukinzo of Burundi, and Port Louis 2000 of Mauritius host Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana.

Panthere Sportive (Central Africa) meet Rayon Sport of Rwanda, Atomique du Niger face Black Bulls of Mozambique, DC Virunga of DR Congo play Bazar Brothers of Seychelles, and Green Mamba of Eswatini go up against Primeiro de Agosto of Angola.

For many of these clubs, the Confederation Cup is not just about glory. It is about survival.

Money, Margin and Motivation

CAF has underlined its commitment to supporting participants with a solidarity payment of 100,000 dollars for every team knocked out in the preliminary rounds. It is a lifeline for smaller clubs, a financial cushion that can fund infrastructure, wages, or simply keep the lights on.

At the other end of the spectrum, the winner walks away with 4 million dollars. That figure changes budgets, recruitment, even long-term planning. It turns this competition into a serious strategic target, not a consolation prize.

The gap between the giants and the emerging clubs is still wide. But with this money on offer, ambition is spreading.

Second Preliminary Round: Giants Enter, Pressure Rises

Once the first wave of eliminations is complete, the second preliminary round takes over in October. First legs run from 16 to 18 October, with the returns between 23 and 25 October.

The bracket is set:

  • Winner of Mogadishu City v Kitara v Al Ahly of Egypt.
  • Winner of ZED v Ittihad Djibouti v Azam of Tanzania.
  • Winner of Al Hilal Al Sahel v Welwalo Adigrat v winner of KMKM v Al Ahly Tripoli.
  • Winner of Al Ahly Madani v Tusker v winner of Al Ghazala Wau v Singida Black Stars.
  • Winner of Panthers v ASPAC v USM Alger.
  • Winner of ASBSI v Kokoroko v AS FAR.
  • Winner of Douanes v Hafia Conakry v CR Belouizdad.
  • Winner of El Kanemi Warriors v Oudjeb v Raja.

The other half of the draw is equally dense:

  • Winner of FC Amadou Diallo v East End Lions v winner of Shooting Stars v CS Sfaxien.
  • Winner of Mostakbal Gabes v Diambars v winner of Vitesse v Real Bamako.
  • Winner of Diarra v Nations v winner of AS Sam v ASKO Kara.
  • Winner of University of Namibia v Kabuscorp v Maniema Union.
  • Winner of Red Arrows v FC Rouge v Kaizer Chiefs.
  • Winner of Durban City v Rukinzo v winner of Port Louis 2000 v Jwaneng Galaxy.
  • Winner of Panthere Sportive v Rayon Sport v winner of Atomique du Niger v Black Bulls.
  • Winner of DC Virunga v Bazar Brothers v winner of Green Mamba v Primeiro de Agosto.

There are no direct clashes between the seeded clubs at this stage. That is deliberate. CAF’s ranking system is designed to keep the heavyweights apart early on, building towards a group stage loaded with marquee names.

But the risk is there. One bad pitch, one red card, one chaotic away leg, and a favourite can vanish before the groups even begin.

A Long, Relentless Calendar

The draw did not just reveal the ties. It mapped out the entire journey.

After the October second preliminary round, the 32 survivors move into the group stage:

  • Matchday one: 27–29 November 2026
  • Matchday two: 4–6 December 2026
  • Matchday three: 18–20 December 2026
  • Matchday four: 8–10 January 2027
  • Matchday five: 15–17 January 2027
  • Matchday six: 22–24 January 2027

Six matchdays in less than two months across the turn of the year. Travel, climate swings, domestic league clashes – squad rotation will not be a luxury, it will be a necessity.

The knockout rounds then take over:

Quarter-finals:

  • First leg: 26–28 February 2027
  • Return leg: 5–7 March 2027

Semi-finals:

  • First leg: 9–11 April 2027
  • Return leg: 16–18 April 2027

The final will be played between 9 and 31 May 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed. Whoever reaches that stage will have survived a campaign stretching from early September to late May – a full-season odyssey.

Champions Under Fire, Contenders Circling

USM Alger hold the trophy, and with it the target on their backs. They will be hunted from the moment they step into the second preliminary round. Al Ahly, Raja, AS FAR, CR Belouizdad, Kaizer Chiefs and the rest will not be content to watch another Algerian coronation.

The draw in Cairo has given the favourites room to breathe, but not to relax. The names may look gentle now – Mogadishu City, Kitara, Panthers, ASPAC – yet this is where reputations are made and seasons are broken.

The bracket is set, the dates are fixed, and the continent is divided into those who dream and those who are expected to deliver.

By the time May 2027 arrives, which side of that line will your club stand on?

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