The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the list of clubs that will compete in the qualifying rounds of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, with Nigeria to be represented by Enugu Rangers and Rivers United.
According to the list released on Monday on CAF’s official website, 24 clubs from 12 countries secured two slots each in the continent’s premier club competition.
The countries with two representatives include Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Tunisia.
Nigeria’s representatives, Enugu Rangers and Rivers United, will begin their campaign in the preliminary rounds alongside clubs from the other two-slot nations.
Among the participating teams are Algeria’s Mouloudia Alger and JS Saoura, Angola’s Petro Luanda and Wiliete, Côte d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas and San Pedro, DR Congo’s TP Mazembe and Aigles, Egypt’s Zamalek and Pyramids, Mali’s Djoliba and Stade Malien, Morocco’s MAS Fes and Renaissance Berkane.
Also confirmed are South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Sudan’s Al Hilal and Al Merrikh, Tanzania’s Young Africans and Simba, as well as Tunisia’s Club Africain and Esperance.
CAF further announced that 40 countries will each be represented by one club in the competition.
The single representatives include Ghana’s Medeama, Kenya’s Gor Mahia, Guinea’s Horoya, Rwanda’s APR, Uganda’s Vipers, Zambia’s Power Dynamos and Zimbabwe’s Scotland.
The continental football governing body, however, noted that representatives from Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Somalia are yet to be confirmed because their domestic league seasons are still ongoing.
Current league leaders in those countries are 15 de Agosto/Leones Vegetarianos of Equatorial Guinea, Canchungo of Guinea-Bissau and Heegan of Somalia.
CAF also unveiled the competition schedule, with the first preliminary round set to take place between September 4 and 6, while the return legs will be played from September 11 to 13.
The second preliminary round is scheduled for October 16 to 18, with return fixtures taking place between October 23 and 25.
The group stage will commence from November 27 to 29 before continuing on December 4 to 6, December 18 to 20, January 8 to 10, January 15 to 17 and January 22 to 24.
The quarter-finals have been fixed for February 26 to 28 and March 5 to 7, while the semi-finals will be played between April 9 and 11, with the return legs scheduled for April 16 to 18.
CAF said the final of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League will be played in May 2027, with the exact date to be announced later.