The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) has announced the draw procedure for the Preliminary Round and Second Preliminary Round of the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, which will take place on Saturday, 09 August in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
A record total of 62 clubs that have registered to participate in this season’s competition and will discover their opponents when the draw is held at Azam Media Studios at 13h00 local time (10h00 GMT).
The draw will be live on CAF’s YouTube channel and on CAF broadcast partners.
Teams that exit in the first two rounds will this season receive USD 100,000 to cover their logistical costs as CAF seeks to encourage more clubs to take part, which is reflected in the record number of teams registered for the 2025/26 season.
The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League campaign will start at the preliminary stage with the first leg scheduled for 19–21 September, while the second leg will be played from 26–28 September.
With 62 clubs registered to take part in the Round of 64, two clubs have received byes to the second round – Al Ahly of Egypt and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
The remaining sides have been placed in Pots depending on their CAF Club Ranking and will be drawn taking into account several factors, including geographical location.
POTS FOR THE DRAW
Pot 1: Aigle Noir FC (BUR), ASAS/Djibouti Telecom (DJI), Insurance Company (ETH), Kenya Police FC (KEN), APR FC (RWA), Mogadishu City Club (SOM), Jamus FC Juba (SSD), Mlandege FC (ZAN)
Pot 2: Dadjè FC (BEN), Rahimo FC (BFA), Colombe Sportive (CMR), AS Tempête (CAF/RCA), Fundación Bata (EQG), AS Mangasport (GAB), Bibiani Gold Stars FC (GHA), FC Fassell (LBR), Libya 1 (LBY), Libya 2 (LBY), Forces Armées (NIG), East End Lions (SLE), Real de Banjul (GAM), ASCK (TGO)
Pot 3: Wiliete SC (ANG), Gaborone United SC (BOT), US Zilimadjou (COM), AC Léopards (CGO), RD Congo 1 (RDC), RD Congo 2 (RDC), Nsingizini Hotspurs (ESW), Lioli FC (LES), Elgeco Plus (MAD), Silver Strikers FC (MLW), Cercle de Joachim (MAU), African Stars (NAM), Remo Stars (NGR), Côte d’Or (SEY), Power Dynamos (ZAM), Simba Bhora FC (ZIM)
Pot 4: Horoya AC (GUI), FC Nouadhibou (MTN), ASC Jaraaf (SEN), US Monastir (TUN)
Pot 5: ASFAR (MAR), MC Alger (ALG), JS Kabylie (ALG), Stade Malien (MLI)
Pot 6: Merreikh (SUD), Stade d’Abidjan (CIV)
Pot 7: ASEC Mimosas (CIV), Orlando Pirates (RSA), Atlético Petróleos de Luanda (ANG), Rivers United (NGR)
COMPETITION TIMELINE
Preliminary Round: First Leg – 19–21 September 2025; Second Leg – 26–28 September 2025
Second Preliminary Round: First Leg – 17–19 October 2025; Second Leg – 24–26 October 2025
Group Stage: Begins 21 November 2025
Knockout Phase: Starts 13 March 2026