Nigeria’s two representatives have discovered their paths to the 2026/27 CAF Champions League group stage after Thursday’s preliminary round draw in Cairo, with Rangers International set to face Benin Republic’s SOBEMAP, while Rivers United were paired with Ivorian side FC San Pedro.
The draw mapped out both the first and second preliminary rounds of Africa’s premier club competition, with clubs now knowing the route they must navigate to reach the lucrative group stage.
Rivers United entered the competition as one of CAF’s seeded Level 3 clubs, thanks to their performances in recent continental campaigns and a CAF coefficient that ranks them 24th in Africa with 15 points.
That seeding earned them a first round meeting with FC San Pedro of Côte d’Ivoire, one of the six lowest ranked seeded clubs in the draw. On paper, Rivers United head into the tie as favorites, with San Pedro sitting 60th in CAF’s latest club rankings.
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Rangers, however, face a different route. the reigning Nigerian champions entered the competition as one of the tournament’s unranked clubs, meaning they were placed in Level 5 of CAF’s seeding system.
They were subsequently drawn against SOBEMAP of Benin Republic in a West African encounter that promises to be closely contested.
Should Rangers progress, they will face Niger Republic’s ASN Nigelec or Algerian giants MC Alger in the second preliminary round.
If Rivers United overcome FC San Pedro, they will meet either Uganda’s Vipers or Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou for a place in the group stage.
A LOOK AT CAF’s seeding system
CAF received 61 entries for this season’s Champions League, three short of the 64 clubs required for a complete Round of 64.
As a result, the continent’s three highest ranked clubs, Mamelodi Sundown’s of South Africa, Espérance of Tunisia and RS Berkane of Morocco, received automatic byes into the second preliminary round.
The remaining 58 clubs were drawn into the first preliminary round, with the 29 winners joining the three exempted clubs in the second preliminary round.
The governing body divided participating teams into five levels based on their CAF coefficient rankings and geographical proximity, a system designed to balance competitiveness while reducing travel costs in the early rounds.
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Beyond the Nigerian representatives, Mamelodi Sundowns, Africa’s highest ranked club, will begin against either Angola’s Wiliete Benguela or Seychelles’ Foresters FC.
Espérance will face the winner between Libya’s Swehly SC and KVZ FC, while RS Berkane await either Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy or Gambia’s Medina United.
Egyptian powerhouse Zamalek could meet either Les Aigles du Congo of DR Congo or Rwanda’s APR, while Pyramids will face the winner between South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu and Somalia’s Heegan FC.
Tanzania’s Simba SC await either Angola’s 15 de Agosto or Comoros’ Fomboni FC, with rivals Young Africans set to face either Madagascar’s CFFA, Lesotho’s Lijabatho FC or Botswana’s Gaborone United after the preliminary ties.
Elsewhere, Orlando Pirates were paired with the winner between Gabon’s AS Manga Sport and Namibia’s African Stars, while Sudan’s Al Hilal could face Chad’s Aiglons FC N’Djamena or Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna.
Former African champions TP Mazembe were drawn against Ghana’s Medeama, Djoliba AC will meet either Tunisia’s Club Africain or Côte d’Ivoire’s Rahimo FC, while Horoya face Algeria’s JS Saoura.
Full CAF Champions League 2026/27 preliminary round draw. Photocredit: CAFTV/YT
The first preliminary round will be played between 4-6 September (first legs) and 11-13 September (second legs).
The second preliminary round is scheduled for 16-18 October (first legs), with the return fixtures taking place between 23-25 October.
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