CAF Champions League: The 5 must-see clashes of the preliminary first round

The Confederation of African Football has conducted the draw for the first two preliminary rounds of the CAF Champions League. The draw has produced several mouthwatering encounters.

Gor Mahia FC – Pyramids

Kenyan champions Gor Mahia weren't spared by the draw. Despite their dominance on the domestic front (22 league titles), the Kenyan giants have struggled to reclaim their continental glory in recent years, hampered by financial issues, FIFA-imposed recruitment restrictions, and logistical challenges.

Pyramids, winners of the 2025 edition, will try to emulate Al-Ahly, who eliminated Gor Mahia in the second round of this tournament last year.

The winner of this duel can expect a manageable second round against whoever emerges from the two-legged tie between El Merreikh Bentiu (South Sudan) and Heegan FC (Somalia).

MAS de Fès – Rahimo FC

This is a clash between the reigning champions of their respective countries. MAS de Fès upset all predictions by winning Morocco's Botola Pro D1, outshining traditional powerhouses like AS FAR, Raja Casablanca, and Wydad Casablanca.

On the other side, Rahimo FC are the champions of Burkina Faso and are hoping to do better than last season, when they were knocked out by Espérance Sportive de Tunis.

FC San Pedro – Rivers United

Rivers United will face Ivorian side FC San Pedro in what promises to be a fiercely contested two-legged tie. The Nigerians have become regulars in this competition in recent years.

Whoever advances—San Pedro or Rivers United—will meet the winner between Uganda's Vipers SC and FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania in the second round.

JS Saoura – Horoya AC

While JS Saoura may not have the continental pedigree of other Algerian sides like USM Alger, CR Belouizdad, or JS Kabylie, they remain a tough side to beat, especially given their strong form in recent years.

Facing them is Horoya Conakry, the Guinean outfit who are regulars in this competition thanks to their dominance in the local league.

Medeama – TP Mazembe

Five-time Champions League winners (1967, 1968, 2009, 2010, 2015) and two-time CAF Confederation Cup holders (2016, 2017), TP Mazembe remain a benchmark in African football. However, the club has lost some of its shine in recent years, suffering a string of disappointing results.

On the opposite side, Ghana's solid Medeama team is hoping to pull off a win and set up a second-round clash with either Club Africain or Mali's Djoliba.

Other encounters are also worth watching, such as Club Africain's return to the competition as they host Djoliba AC, and Colombe Sportive taking on Stade Malien.

The first preliminary round matches will be played from September 4th to 6th, 2026 for the first leg, and from September 11th to 13th for the return leg. As for the second round, the first leg will take place between October 16th and 18th, with the return scheduled for October 23rd to 25th.

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

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