The road to continental glory for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League season has officially begun following Thursday’s preliminary round draw in Cairo. South African powerhouses Mamelodi Sundowns FC and Orlando Pirates now know the exact paths lying ahead of them.
Sundowns Secure Bye as Defending Champions
As the defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns FC enter the competition with high expectations after defeating AS FAR Rabat last season to claim their second continental title. Under CAF’s tiered structure, Masandawana are classified as a Level 1 team alongside RS Berkane and Esperance De Tunis.
This classification earns them a first-round bye. They will face the winner between Wiliete Benguela and Foresters FC in the second preliminary round.
Pirates Placed in Level 2 Grouping
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates find themselves in Level 2 alongside nine other clubs, including sides managed by South African coaches such as Steve Barker’s Simba SC, Manqoba Mngqithi’s Young Africans, and Rulani Mokwena’s Pyramids FC.
Teams in Level 2 face non-seeded opponents across both rounds. The Buccaneers are set to battle the winner of the tie between AS Mangasport and Africa Stars, with La Cure Waves also featuring in their section of the bracket.
Historical Shifts in Continental Football
A total of 61 teams entered this year’s tournament across five levels. Six teams comprise Levels 3 and 4, while 36 clubs make up Level 5. The 29 winners from the first round will join the three exempt teams in the second preliminary round, with the 16 eventual victors advancing directly to the group stage.
Perhaps the most notable takeaway from the draw is the absence of record champions Al Ahly. The Egyptian giants finished third in the domestic league last season, resulting in a drop to the CAF Confederation Cup—a shift that fundamentally alters the competitive balance at the top tier of African football.
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Source: soccerladuma.co.za