Sundowns Exempt As Pirates, Chiefs & Durban City Discover CAF Opponents
Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, and Durban City will discover their CAF club competition pathways when the preliminary round draws take place in Egypt on Thursday.
South Africa’s high ranking in the CAF five-year coefficient system grants the PSL two spots in both interclub competitions (4 clubs total).
Reigning CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns will receive a bye into the second preliminary round, benefiting from their title status and high CAF coefficient ranking.
Sundowns won the 2026 CAF Champions League over AS FAR Rabat, which earned them their second star and a $6M payout.
Domestic league champions Orlando Pirates will start in the first preliminary round, looking to redeem themselves after a second-round penalty shootout exit to Congolese side Éloi Lupopo last season.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, third-place Betway Premiership finishers Kaizer Chiefs enter the first preliminary round following a group-stage exit last term. Joining them are Nedbank Cup champions Durban City, who make their historical debut in continental football.
CAF said in a statement on Sunday:
The journey towards continental club football glory begins on Thursday, 6 August 2026, when the Preliminary Round draws for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2026/27 take place at CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
Teams from across the continent will discover their first opponents as they begin their pursuit of a place in the group stages of Africa’s two premier club competitions.
The TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup draw will begin at 14h00 Cairo time (11h00 GMT), followed by the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League draw at 15h00 Cairo time (12h00 GMT).
Both draws will be broadcast live on CAF TV, giving supporters across Africa and beyond the opportunity to follow the opening chapter of another exciting CAF Interclub season.
Draw details:
TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup preliminary rounds
Date: Thursday, 6 August 2026Time: 14h00 Cairo time (11h00 GMT)Venue: CAF headquarters, Cairo, Egypt
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League preliminary rounds
Date: Thursday, 6 August 2026Time: 15h00 Cairo time (12h00 GMT)Venue: CAF headquarters, Cairo, Egypt
The winners of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League will receive USD 6 million in prize money, while the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup champions will earn USD 4 million.
Clubs eliminated in the preliminary rounds will each receive a solidarity payment of USD 100,000, part of CAF’s continued investment in supporting participating teams and increasing engagement in its Interclub competitions.
The preliminary rounds have produced memorable contests and compelling storylines in recent seasons, bringing together established continental giants and ambitious emerging clubs eager to make their mark on the African stage.
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns are the defending champions in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, while USM Alger of Algeria lifted the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup last season.
