By Towncrier Editorial Desk
The CAF Champions League returns for its second preliminary round this weekend, with 32 clubs competing over two legs for 16 places in the group stage of Africa’s leading men’s club competition.
First-leg fixtures are scheduled for 16–18 October 2026, with return matches due on 23–25 October. The format leaves little room for error as teams seek to progress from the qualifying rounds into the main phase.
Among the opening fixtures are El Merriekh Bentiu of South Sudan against Egypt’s Pyramids FC, Rwanda’s APR FC against Egypt’s Zamalek, and Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy against Morocco’s RS Berkane.
Other established names in the competition include Mamelodi Sundowns, TP Mazembe, Espérance and Orlando Pirates. Their participation adds experience and profile to a qualifying round that also provides opportunities for clubs with fewer appearances on the continental stage.
The first legs will help shape the ties but will not settle qualification on their own. Teams must navigate the return fixtures before their places in the group stage can be confirmed.
For smaller clubs, reaching this stage brings challenges beyond the pitch. Cross-border travel, accommodation, player preparation and match organisation can place pressure on budgets, especially where domestic commercial revenue is limited.
Continental competition can also offer clubs visibility beyond their home leagues. Strong performances create opportunities to attract supporters, commercial partners and wider attention to players and coaches.
CAF has announced financial support of $100,000 for clubs eliminated in the preliminary rounds. Such assistance can help offset participation costs, although it does not remove the wider funding disparities between clubs.
The encounters also provide a test of squad depth and preparation. Domestic schedules, international travel and the demands of two-legged ties can influence how coaches manage players across a short period.
Supporters will be watching whether the more established clubs can translate their experience into results and whether emerging challengers can make the most of home advantage in the opening matches.
As the round begins, match outcomes should be reported only after official confirmation. The immediate story is the contest for qualification, not a list of teams already through to the next stage.
The next two weekends will determine the group-stage lineup and offer another measure of the competitive breadth of African club football.
Sources: Confederation of African Football — official Champions League coverage; CAF official website.
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