CAF Set to Stage 2026/27 Champions League and Confederation Cup Preliminary Draws
The road to African club football’s biggest prizes will officially begin on Thursday, August 6, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts the preliminary round draws for the 2026/27 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup in Cairo, Egypt.
The draws, to be held at CAF headquarters, will determine the opening-round fixtures for clubs from across the continent as they begin their quest to reach the group stages of Africa’s premier interclub competitions.
The TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round draw will take place at 14:00 local time (11:00 GMT), followed an hour later by the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League draw at 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT). Both events will be streamed live on CAF TV.
This season’s competitions once again carry significant financial incentives. The winners of the CAF Champions League will receive a prize of USD 6 million, while the CAF Confederation Cup champions will earn USD 4 million.
CAF has also maintained its financial support for clubs exiting the competition early, with every team eliminated during the preliminary rounds set to receive a USD 100,000 solidarity payment as part of the governing body’s efforts to strengthen club football across the continent.
The preliminary stages have consistently produced some of the competition’s most captivating encounters, with African heavyweights often tested by ambitious emerging clubs seeking to establish themselves on the continental stage.
South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns enter the new campaign as defending CAF Champions League holders, while Algeria’s USM Alger will begin the defence of their CAF Confederation Cup title.
Draw Schedule
TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary Round
- Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026
- Time: 14:00 Cairo time (11:00 GMT)
- Venue: CAF Headquarters, Cairo, Egypt
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Preliminary Round
- Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026
- Time: 15:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT)
- Venue: CAF Headquarters, Cairo, Egypt
