Record Participation: 62 Clubs Compete for CAF Champions League Title

The draw for the CAF Champions League qualifying rounds has started in Tanzania, marking the beginning of this season’s campaign for Africa’s top club trophy. The tournament, which starts on September 16, will feature 62 teams—setting a new record for participation.

The top eight countries in the football association rankings will each send two clubs. These include Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Algeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Angola, and DR Congo. Other nations, with the exception of Chad, Cape Verde, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Réunion, and São Tomé and Príncipe, will be represented by one club each.

The most successful clubs, Egypt’s Al Ahly and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, will enter the competition from the second preliminary round. The current champions, Egypt’s Pyramids, will begin their journey from the first qualifying stage.

Clubs that are eliminated in the early rounds will receive a $100,000 compensation from CAF to help with expenses, encouraging more teams to participate this season.

The first preliminary round matches are set for September 16–21 and 26–28, followed by the second round from October 17–19 and 24–26. The group stage will begin on November 21, 2025, with the playoffs commencing on March 13, 2026.