The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that there will be no changes to the format of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup for the 2025/26 season.
Member federations have until 31 July to submit the names of clubs that will represent them in next season’s competitions, which are scheduled to begin in mid-September.
The delayed start is due to the African Nations Championship (CHAN), set to be held in August.
CAF also confirmed that the top 12 ranked countries in the five-year association rankings will maintain their privilege of entering four clubs each—two in the Champions League and two in the Confederation Cup.
Nigeria to Field Four Clubs in CAF Interclub Competitions
Nigeria is among the top 12 associations and will again field four clubs in the CAF interclub competitions for the 2025/26 season.
CAF Champions League:
Remo Stars (NPFL champions)
Rivers United (2nd place in NPFL)
CAF Confederation Cup:
Abia Warriors (3rd place in NPFL) – set to make their debut on the continental stage.
NPFL Champions Remo Stars lifting their 2024/2025 title in Ikenne. Photo Credit: X
The fourth slot will be decided by the outcome of the 2025 President Federation Cup final, which is yet to be scheduled.
The final will pit NPFL side Kwara United against Abakaliki FC, a second-tier giant-killer. The winner will clinch Nigeria’s final continental spot.
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Rivers United’s performance over the past five years has been instrumental in maintaining Nigeria’s four-team allocation.
The Port Harcourt-based club has amassed 14 CAF ranking points, thanks to consistent group stage appearances.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s most successful club on the continent, Enyimba FC, has dropped to joint-35th position in the latest CAF five-year club rankings.
Brown Ideye and his Enyimba teammates. Photo Credit: Athletic Images
The two-time CAF Champions League winners have accumulated just 7 coefficient points across the past five seasons, equal to Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf and Cameroon’s Coton Sport.
Clubs such as ES Sétif (Algeria) and Marumo Gallants (South Africa) rank 30th with 9 points, while Abu Salim (Libya, 8 points) and FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania, 8.5 points) have edged ahead.
Other sides, including CS Sfaxien (6.5 points) and Al Ahli Tripoli (6 points), also outperformed Enyimba over the same period.
CAF Ranking System Explained
CAF’s five-year ranking system awards coefficient points based on a club’s progression in either the Champions League or Confederation Cup.
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The rankings affect both seeding for draws and the number of spots allocated to each federation.
Points breakdown:
CAF Champions League
- Winner: 6 pts
- Runner-up: 5 pts
- Semi-finalist: 4 pts
- Quarter-finalist: 3 pts
- 3rd in group: 2 pts
- 4th in group: 1 pt
CAF Confederation Cup
- Winner: 5 pts
- Runner-up: 4 pts
- Semi-finalist: 3 pts
- Quarter-finalist: 2 pts
- 3rd in group: 1 pt
- 4th in group: 0.5 pt
Power Shift Across Africa
While North African giants like Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, and Raja CA continue to dominate the top end of the rankings, clubs from countries like Libya, Mauritania, and Tunisia have risen steadily.
Pyramids won their first-ever CAF Champions League after a 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in Cairo. Photo Credit: X
In contrast, Kaizer Chiefs, AS Vita Club, and Medeama SC are among several historic names who find themselves lower down the table, tied at or below 5 points.
Egypt’s Pyramids FC claimed their first-ever CAF Champions League title after edging South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 on aggregate.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Moroccan side RS Berkane triumphed with a hard-fought 3-1 aggregate victory over Tanzania’s Simba SC, sealing the 2024/2025 title and adding to their growing continental legacy.
