The road to African club glory begins on Thursday, 6 August 2026, as the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) conducts the official preliminary round draws for both the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League (CAFCL) and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC).
The draw ceremony is hosted at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
Schedule & Local Time (EAT)
For fans tuning in across East Africa (EAT), the draws take place as follows:
| Competition | Cairo Time (local) | GMT | EAT Time |
| CAF Confederation Cup | 14:00 | 11:00 GMT | 15:00 EAT |
| CAF Champions League | 15:00 | 12:00 GMT | 16:00 EAT |
Both draw proceedings will be streamed live globally on CAF’s official YouTube channel, CAF TV.
South African Representatives
South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) sends four clubs into continental competition for the 2026/27 campaign:
- CAF Champions League:
- Orlando Pirates (PSL League Champions)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (PSL League Runners-up & defending CAF Champions League holders)
- CAF Confederation Cup:
- Kaizer Chiefs (3rd-place PSL finish)
- Durban City (Nedbank Cup Champions)
Key Takeaways & Storylines
- Preliminary Stages: The ceremony will map out the fixtures for the opening qualification rounds, mapping out each team’s route toward the group stages.
- Al Ahly in the Confederation Cup: 12-time Champions League winners Al Ahly missing out on CAFCL qualification sees the Egyptian powerhouse featured in the CAF Confederation Cup for the first time in over two decades.
- Prize Money: CAF has confirmed $6 million for the Champions League winner and $4 million for the Confederation Cup winner, with all clubs competing in preliminary rounds receiving a $100,000 solidarity bonus.
