The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed Enugu Rangers and Rivers United as Nigeria’s representatives for the qualifying rounds of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League.
CAF released the list of participating clubs on Monday, with 24 teams from 12 member associations earning two slots each in Africa’s premier club competition.
Nigeria’s representatives, Enugu Rangers and Rivers United, will begin their continental campaign in the preliminary rounds as they bid to secure qualification for the lucrative group stage.
Other countries with two representatives include Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Mali, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Tunisia.
Among the clubs confirmed for the qualifiers are Mouloudia Alger and JS Saoura of Algeria, Petro Luanda and Wiliete of Angola, ASEC Mimosas and San Pedro of Côte d’Ivoire, TP Mazembe and Aigles of DR Congo, Zamalek and Pyramids of Egypt, Djoliba and Stade Malien of Mali, MAS Fes and Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates of South Africa, Al Hilal and Al Merrikh of Sudan, Young Africans and Simba of Tanzania, as well as Club Africain and Esperance of Tunisia.
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CAF also announced that 40 member associations will each have one representative in the competition. These include Medeama of Ghana, Gor Mahia of Kenya, Horoya of Guinea, APR of Rwanda, Vipers of Uganda, Power Dynamos of Zambia and Scotland FC of Zimbabwe.
The continental football governing body noted that representatives from Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Somalia are yet to be confirmed, as their domestic league campaigns are still ongoing.
According to the competition schedule, the first preliminary round will be played between September 4 and 6, with the return legs slated for September 11 to 13.
The second preliminary round is scheduled for October 16 to 18, while the return fixtures will take place from October 23 to 25.
The group stage will commence between November 27 and 29 before continuing through six matchdays into January 2027.
CAF also confirmed that the quarter-finals will be played between February 26 and March 7, while the semi-finals are scheduled for April 9 to 18. The final of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League will be held in May, with the exact date yet to be announced.