Fourteen clubs from across Africa will make their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League debuts when the 2026/27 edition kicks off, each bringing fresh ambitions and the determination to leave a mark on the continent's most prestigious club competition.

The debutants span the full breadth of the continent — from Seychelles in the Indian Ocean to Sierra Leone on the Atlantic coast, and from Libya in the north to Lesotho in the deep south. First Round fixtures are scheduled for 4–6 September and 11–13 September.

Southern Africa's exciting newcomers

Three of the most intriguing debutants emerge from Southern Africa. Scottland FC of Zimbabwe have risen rapidly through the domestic ranks and now earn their shot at continental competition. La Cure Waves of Mauritius and Lijabatho FC of Lesotho also arrive on the back of breakthrough domestic campaigns that earned them this historic first appearance.

Seychelles champions Foresters FC complete the southern contingent, though they carry some continental experience — having previously competed in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. That grounding in two-legged knockout football across the continent could prove an advantage as they step up to the Champions League.

Clubs with prior CAF experience

Foresters are not the only debutants who arrive knowing something of continental football. Equatorial Guinea's 15 de Agosto, Zanzibar's KVZ FC, and Djibouti's AS Port have all featured in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup in the past. For those clubs, this is an ascent to a higher level rather than a leap into the unknown.

Libya's Swehly SC are another notable addition. They carry the hopes of a nation with a respected tradition in CAF interclub football and will be among the sides drawing strong interest from supporters across the continent.

West Africa sends four debutants

West Africa contributes four clubs to the list of newcomers. Star Sport Academy of Sierra Leone and Medina United FC of The Gambia enter the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League for the first time, joined by FC Canchungo of Guinea-Bissau and SOBEMAP FC of Benin. Chad's Aiglons FC and Ethiopia's Sidama Bunna also make their bows, each seeking to translate domestic success into a continental footprint.

The solidarity factor

The growing number of first-time participants reflects, in part, a CAF policy change that introduced a solidarity payment of USD 100,000 for clubs eliminated before the group stage. That financial safety net has encouraged more leagues and clubs to enter, widening the competition's reach across the continent.

A platform for the ambitious

History shows that newcomers need not arrive merely to make up the numbers. The preliminary rounds have repeatedly served as a launchpad for emerging clubs to announce themselves on the African stage. Some debutants face opponents with far greater continental experience, while others meet fellow first-timers — meaning new names are guaranteed to advance further into the tournament.

That dynamic, established heavyweights facing clubs fuelled by momentum and hunger, is part of what makes the early rounds so compelling.

The full list of TotalEnergies CAF Champions League debutants for 2026/27: Foresters FC (Seychelles), Scottland FC (Zimbabwe), La Cure Waves (Mauritius), 15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea), Lijabatho FC (Lesotho), Swehly SC (Libya), KVZ FC (Zanzibar), AS Port (Djibouti), Aiglons FC (Chad), Sidama Bunna (Ethiopia), Star Sport Academy (Sierra Leone), Medina United FC (The Gambia), FC Canchungo (Guinea-Bissau), and SOBEMAP FC (Benin).