Kaizer Chiefs, Stellenbosch FC, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Orlando Pirates have all discovered their opponents for the preliminary rounds of their respective 2025/26 season CAF inter-club competitions.
The draw for the much-anticipated CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup took place on Saturday at the Azam Media Studios in Dar es Salaam.
Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC will compete in the Confed Cup, while Sundowns and Orlando Pirates will challenge for the CAF Champions League title.
Nasreddine Nabi’s troops return to continental football for the first time since their 2022 Champions League final appearance. They qualified by winning the Nedbank Cup last season, where they defeated rivals Pirates in the final.
The Soweto giants will face Kaburscop Palanka from Angola in the first preliminary round. Should they advance, they will play the winner of a tie between a DR Congo representative and Djabal FC of Comoros.
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch, who secured their spot by finishing third in the Betway Premiership, received a bye in the first round. They will enter the competition in the second preliminary round, where they will take on the winner of the match between Foresters FC [Seychelles] and Agosto [Equatorial Guinea].
Stellenbosch will be hoping to replicate their impressive run from last campaign, which saw them reach the semi-finals.
“The journey to glory will begin with the Preliminary Round, played over two legs on the weekends of 19–21 September and 26–28 September 2025. Victors will advance to the Second Preliminary Round on 17–19 October, with the return legs a week later from 24–26 October,” said CAF.
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BECKONS FOR SUNDOWNS AND PIRATES
Sundowns and Pirates are set to challenge for the Champions League title after both qualified for the competition. Sundowns secured their spot as the Betway Premiership winners, while Pirates qualified as runners-up. Both former African champions reached the semi-finals last season, making them strong contenders once again.
The Tshwane giants will enter the competition in the second preliminary round after receiving a bye in the first round. They will face the winner of the match between Remo Stars of Nigeria and US Zilimadjou from the Comoros.
On the other hand, Pirates will begin their campaign in the first preliminary round against Lioli FC from Lesotho. If they advance, they will play the winner of the tie between a DR Congo representative and El Merreikh in the second round.
“The journey to glory will begin with the Preliminary Round, played over two legs on the weekends of 19–21 September and 26–28 September 2025. Victors will advance to the Second Preliminary Round on 17–19 October, with the return legs a week later from 24–26 October,” said CAF.
“The successful sides will earn their place in the Group Stage, which kicks off on 21 November 2025.
“From there, the best of the best will battle through to the knockout stage, starting on 13 March 2026, with the dream of lifting African football’s most coveted club trophies.”
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