CAF Champions League

Road to group stage: CAF Champions League second preliminary round fixtures confirmed

By Onukpa Chukwudi

Posted on September 15, 2026

The CAF Champions League second preliminary round draw is set, with Mamelodi Sundowns, Esperance, Zamalek, TP Mazembe and other African heavyweights facing decisive ties for 16 group-stage places.

The road to the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage has taken shape, with 16 second preliminary round ties confirmed as Africa’s leading clubs prepare for another decisive test in October.

The first legs will be played from 16-18 October, followed by the return fixtures from 23-25 October, with the winners of all 16 ties advancing to the group stage scheduled to begin at the end of November.

The second preliminary round brings defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, four times winners Esperance Sportive de Tunis and 2022 champions RS Berkane into the competition after they received byes through the opening round.

Sundowns will begin their title defence against Angola’s Wiliete, who announced their arrival on the continental stage with a 5-0 aggregate victory over Seychelles’ Foresters FC. Angola international Mabululu scored three of Wiliete’s five goals across the tie.

Esperance have been drawn against Libya’s Al-Swehly, another side that impressed in the opening round. The Libyan club defeated Zanzibar’s KVZ 4-0 on aggregate after winning both legs, including a 3-0 success in the return fixture.

Morocco’s RS Berkane will face Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy, while Egyptian giants Zamalek meet Rwanda’s APR FC.

Zamalek were among the most convincing teams in the first preliminary round, completing a 6-1 aggregate victory over AS Port of Djibouti after a 4-0 win in the return leg. APR, meanwhile, overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Aigles du Congo by producing a 3-0 victory in Kigali.

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Another Egyptian heavyweight, Pyramids FC, will face South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu after an emphatic opening round. Pyramids followed a 2-0 away win over Gor Mahia with a 5-1 victory at home to progress 7-1 on aggregate.

One of the standout ties of the round will take place in DR Congo, where TP Mazembe face Tunisia’s Club Africain.

Mazembe advanced after defeating Ghana’s Medeama in both legs, winning 1-0 away before securing a 3-1 home victory. Club Africain had a tougher route, edging Djoliba 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-0 first-leg victory and a 2-2 draw in the return.

There is also an intriguing North and West African meeting between Maghreb Fès and ASEC Mimosas. The Moroccan side progressed past Burkina Faso’s Rahimo 4-1 on aggregate, while ASEC now face another demanding continental assignment.

South Africa’s Orlando Pirates will continue their campaign against Namibia’s African Stars after overcoming Mauritius’ La Cure Waves 3-1 on aggregate.

Sudanese giants Al-Hilal Omdurman have been drawn against Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna, while Guinea’s Horoya AC will meet Sudan’s Al-Merriekh. Tanzania’s Young Africans face Madagascar’s CFFA, and Senegal’s Teungueth FC will take on Cameroon’s Colombe Sportive.

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The round also features a Nigerian interest, with Enugu Rangers drawn against MC Alger of Algeria.

Rangers survived a tense first round tie against Benin Republic’s AS Sobemap, progressing 5-4 on penalties after the two sides finished 2-2 on aggregate. MC Alger, meanwhile, advanced in emphatic fashion against Niger’s ASN Nigelec, winning the second leg 5-0 after a goalless opening encounter.

The remaining ties include San Pedro against Nouadhibou and Zimbabwe’s Scottland FC against Angola’s Petro Atlético.

Tanzania’s Simba SC will face the winner of the outstanding first-round tie between 15 de Agosto and Fomboni FC. The Equatorial Guinean side holds a commanding 4-0 advantage from the first leg, with the return fixture scheduled for October 3.

With only one round separating the remaining clubs from the group stage, the October ties will provide a significant test of continental pedigree, squad depth and consistency.

For the 16 winners, the reward is a place in the group stage and a continued challenge for Africa’s biggest club prize, with the eventual champions set to receive a record USD 6 million.

CAF has also confirmed USD 100,000 payments for clubs eliminated in the preliminary rounds, aimed at helping participating teams manage the travel and logistical demands of continental competition.

The second preliminary round therefore represents the final barrier before the Champions League enters its group-stage phase, with 32 clubs set to battle across two legs for the 16 places available.