Rangers, Rivers United Learn CAF Champions League Opponents
Nigeria’s representatives in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, Rangers International and Rivers United, have discovered the teams standing between them and a place in the lucrative group stage.
The draws for the preliminary rounds were conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo on Thursday, with both Nigerian clubs handed different challenges.
Rivers United, who have a stronger CAF ranking from their recent performances in continental competitions, have been seeded for the competition.
The Port Harcourt club, ranked 24th in Africa with 15 CAF coefficient points, will face Côte d’Ivoire’s FC San Pedro in the first preliminary round.
Rivers United will be favourites on paper, with FC San Pedro ranked 60th in CAF’s latest club coefficient standings.
If Rivers United progress, they will face either Uganda’s Vipers SC or Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou in the second preliminary round, with a place in the group stage at stake.
For Rangers International, the road to the group stage looks more difficult.
The reigning Nigeria Premier Football League champions were not seeded because of their lower CAF ranking and have been drawn against Benin Republic champions SOBEMAP.
The Enugu-based club must overcome the West African side to set up a second-round meeting with either Niger Republic’s ASN Nigelec or Algerian giants MC Alger.
The preliminary draw featured 61 clubs, three short of the 64 required for a full Round of 64.
As a result, CAF gave automatic places in the second preliminary round to the three highest-ranked clubs: South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Tunisia’s Espérance and Morocco’s RS Berkane.
The other 58 clubs will compete in the first preliminary round, with the 29 winners joining the three exempted clubs in the second round.
CAF based the seeding on each club’s coefficient ranking, which is calculated from their performances in continental competitions over the last five seasons. Geographical proximity was also considered to help reduce travel costs and other logistical challenges.
Elsewhere, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns will face either Angola’s Wiliete Benguela or Seychelles’ Foresters FC.
Espérance will meet the winner between Libya’s Swehly SC and KVZ FC, while RS Berkane will face either Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy or Gambia’s Medina United.
Egyptian giants Zamalek could face DR Congo’s Les Aigles du Congo or Rwanda’s APR FC, while fellow Egyptian side Pyramids will meet either South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu or Somalia’s Heegan FC.
Tanzania’s Simba SC will play either Angola’s 15 de Agosto or Comoros’ Fomboni FC. Their rivals Young Africans will face the winner of the preliminary tie involving Madagascar’s CFFA, Lesotho’s Lijabatho FC and Botswana’s Gaborone United.
South Africa’s Orlando Pirates will meet either Gabon’s AS Manga Sport or Namibia’s African Stars, while Sudanese giants Al Hilal could face Chad’s Aiglons FC N’Djamena or Ethiopia’s Sidama Bunna.
Former African champions TP Mazembe have been drawn against Ghana’s Medeama SC, while Djoliba AC will face either Tunisia’s Club Africain or Côte d’Ivoire’s Rahimo FC. Guinea’s Horoya will take on Algeria’s JS Saoura.
The first preliminary-round matches will be played over two legs, with the first legs scheduled for September 4–6 and the return legs from September 11–13.
The second preliminary round will take place from October 16–18, with the return legs scheduled for October 23–25.
The winners of the second preliminary round will qualify for the 16-team CAF Champions League group stage, where Africa’s top clubs will compete for continental honours, prize money and greater international exposure.
