The second preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 gets underway this weekend, with 32 clubs competing for 16 spots in the group stage. Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, former winners Espérance Sportive de Tunis, TP Mazembe, and Orlando Pirates are among the standout names in the draw.

Mamelodi Sundowns travel to Angola

Mamelodi Sundowns open their campaign with an away trip to Angola, where they face Wiliete — a side that announced themselves emphatically by thrashing Seychelles' Foresters FC 5-0 on aggregate in the first preliminary round.

Four-time continental champions Espérance Sportive de Tunis also enter at this stage, heading to Libya to take on Al-Swehly. Egypt's Pyramids FC, who delivered one of the most commanding displays in the opening round, face South Sudan's El Merriekh Bentiu.

TP Mazembe vs Club Africain: a fixture rich in history

One of the most anticipated clashes of the round sees five-time African champions TP Mazembe host Tunisia's Club Africain in Lubumbashi. Both clubs carry distinguished continental pedigrees, and the tie promises to be fiercely contested ahead of the return leg in Tunisia.

South Africa's Orlando Pirates face Namibia's African Stars, while Morocco's RS Berkane — who received a bye into this round — begin away from home against Sierra Leone's Star Sport Academy.

Zamalek face a stern test in Rwanda

Egyptian giants Zamalek travel to Kigali to meet APR FC, who impressed with a comeback victory in the previous round. Zamalek themselves enter in strong form, having swept aside Djibouti's AS Port with a 6-1 aggregate scoreline.

Tanzania's Young Africans travel to Madagascar to face CFFA, while their compatriots Simba SC host Equatorial Guinea's 15 de Agosto. In Nigeria, Rangers International welcome Algeria's MC Alger at home, while Morocco's Maghreb Fès face Côte d'Ivoire's ASEC Mimosas and San Pedro host Mauritania's FC Nouadhibou.

Guinea's Horoya AC, fresh from eliminating Algeria's JS Saoura, take on Sudanese heavyweights Al-Merriekh, while Ethiopia's Sidama Bunna face Sudan's Al Hilal Omdurman. Zimbabwe's Scottland FC welcome Angola's Petro Atlético, and Senegal's Teungueth FC meet Cameroon's Colombe Sportive.

Schedule and financial support

First-leg fixtures run from 16 to 18 October, with the return legs scheduled for 23 to 25 October. The 16 clubs that advance will be confirmed at the end of that window.

CAF has also confirmed that clubs eliminated during the preliminary rounds will each receive $100,000 to offset travel and logistical costs — a measure designed to encourage broader participation in its interclub competitions.

Second preliminary round fixtures

Friday, 16 October: El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan) vs Pyramids FC (Egypt); APR FC (Rwanda) vs Zamalek (Egypt); Star Sport Academy (Sierra Leone) vs RS Berkane (Morocco).

Saturday, 17 October: CFFA (Madagascar) vs Young Africans (Tanzania); African Stars (Namibia) vs Orlando Pirates (South Africa); TP Mazembe (DR Congo) vs Club Africain (Tunisia); 15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea) vs Simba SC (Tanzania); San Pedro (Côte d'Ivoire) vs FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania).

Sunday, 18 October: Rangers International (Nigeria) vs MC Alger (Algeria); Scottland FC (Zimbabwe) vs Petro Atlético (Angola); Sidama Bunna (Ethiopia) vs Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan); Wiliete (Angola) vs Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa); Horoya AC (Guinea) vs Al-Merriekh (Sudan); Al-Swehly (Libya) vs Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia); Teungueth FC (Senegal) vs Colombe Sportive (Cameroon); Maghreb Fès (Morocco) vs ASEC Mimosas (Côte d'Ivoire).