The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) will bring together club representatives from across Africa in Cairo this week for a two-day workshop designed to prepare qualified sides for the group stages of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2026/27.

Scheduled for Thursday, 29 October and Friday, 30 October 2026, the sessions will cover a broad range of operational and technical areas — including competition regulations, match organisation, refereeing, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) procedures, and anti-doping requirements.

Club officials will also receive briefings on commercial regulations, television production, digital activities, media operations, stadium safety and security, disciplinary matters, and professional football standards.

One day after the draw

The workshop follows directly on from the CAF Interclub Group Stage Draw, which takes place on Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at the Egyptian Football Association Headquarters in Cairo. At that event, the 16 qualified clubs in each competition will learn their group opponents ahead of the November kick-off.

The opening matches of both group stages are scheduled for 27–29 November 2026, with each competition featuring 16 clubs split into four groups of four.

Record prize money on offer

The workshop forms part of CAF's broader push — under president Dr Patrice Motsepe — to raise professionalism and financial sustainability across African club football. CAF has raised the prize money for both competitions to record levels: the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners will pocket USD 6 million, while the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup champions will receive USD 4 million.

Even clubs eliminated in the Preliminary Rounds will benefit, with CAF allocating USD 100,000 per club to help offset travel and logistical costs — a measure aimed at widening participation across the continent.

CAF says the initiative reflects its commitment to strengthening the competitiveness of its Interclub competitions and expanding opportunities for clubs from every corner of Africa. Further details on both competitions are available at www.cafonline.com.