Africa’s continental club competitions are moving through their first major elimination phase of the 2026/27 season, with the CAF Champions League preliminary round beginning to produce qualifiers for the next stage and Confederation Cup ties being decided across the continent.
CAF reported on 12 September that several clubs had secured progression from the first preliminary round of the Champions League as the race for places in the group stage gathered pace. The return legs follow a first weekend in which narrow margins, away victories and closely contested ties left several matchups open.
Early contenders emerge
Among the clubs already through is Angola’s Wiliete Sport Clube de Benguela, which completed a 5-0 aggregate victory over Foresters FC. The result sets up a second preliminary round meeting with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, according to CAF.
The preliminary stages are particularly significant for clubs outside the continent’s established powerhouses. Progression offers teams an opportunity to test themselves against stronger opposition while moving closer to the group stage, where continental visibility and the competitive stakes rise considerably.
Confederation Cup battles continue
The CAF Confederation Cup is following a similar path, with first preliminary round second legs taking place across the weekend. CAF said clubs across the continent were competing to keep alive their hopes of reaching the group stage.
These early rounds provide one of the broadest snapshots of African club football. Teams from different domestic leagues enter the continental system before successive elimination rounds narrow the field towards the clubs that will contest the main competition.
The road to the group stage
The Champions League return legs mark only the first hurdle. Qualifiers must still negotiate the second preliminary round before the group-stage field is established, leaving established continental clubs and emerging challengers competing for places in the next phase.
With fixtures continuing across the weekend, the final picture from the opening preliminary round will become clearer as remaining ties are completed.
Sources: CAF: Champions League first hurdle cleared; CAF: Champions League return legs; CAF: Confederation Cup second legs.
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