According to WinWin, CAF’s Club Competitions and Licensing Committee has provisionally scheduled the draws for Thursday, August 6. The preliminary rounds are set to begin on September 4.
The report also stated that CAF closed the registration system for its member associations on July 25. This closure paves the way for confirming participating clubs and identifying teams exempt from the first preliminary round.
CAF has also released the complete competition calendar for both tournaments, detailing every stage from the opening preliminary round in September 2026 to the finals in May 2027.
Following the preliminary rounds, the group stage will run from November 2026 to January 2027. The finals are slated for May 9 to May 31, 2027.
Prize money remains unchanged, with the CAF Champions League winners receiving US$6 million and the CAF Confederation Cup champions earning US$4 million.
The first preliminary round matches will be played on September 4, 5, and 6, with the return legs on September 11, 12, or 13.
The second preliminary round is scheduled for October 16, 17, and 18, with return fixtures on October 23, 24, or 25.
The group stage will kick off with Matchday 1 on November 27 and 28, followed by:
- Matchday 2: December 4 and 6
- Matchday 3: December 18 and 19
- Matchday 4: January 8 and 9, 2027
- Matchday 5: January 15 and 16
- Matchday 6: January 22 and 23
The first legs of the quarterfinals will be played on February 26, 27, or 28, 2027, with the return legs scheduled for March 5, 6, or 7.
The semi-final first legs will take place on April 9 and 10, 2027, with the return fixtures on April 16 and 17.
