By McGeorge Mbare
AFRICAN football clubs will discover their preliminary round opponents on Thursday, August 6,2026, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts the draws for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup at its headquarters in Cairo.
The Confederation Cup draw is scheduled for 14:00 Cairo time (11:00 GMT), while the CAF Champions League draw will follow at 15:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT).
Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champions Scotland FC, South African champions Orlando Pirates, defending CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns, and other clubs from across the continent will learn the opponents they must overcome to secure places in the group stages of Africa’s interclub competitions.
CAF has retained lucrative prize money for the tournaments, with the Champions League winners set to receive US$6 million, while the Confederation Cup champions will earn US$4 million.
Clubs eliminated during the preliminary rounds will each receive a US$100,000 solidarity payment, part of CAF’s initiative to support participating teams and strengthen its interclub competitions.
The preliminary rounds traditionally feature competitive ties between established African football powerhouses and emerging clubs seeking to qualify for the lucrative group stages.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean club Dynamos FC will not participate in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup after being excluded over outstanding debts.
The Harare giants allegedly failed to settle a US$13,000 debt owed to former coach Saul Chaminuka, resulting in their exclusion from the competition.
Instead of clearing the outstanding amount, Dynamos are reported to have withdrawn from the tournament, forfeiting an opportunity to earn at least US$100,000 in participation revenue.
The development reinforces CAF’s strict enforcement of club licensing and financial regulations, with unpaid contractual obligations continuing to attract sanctions, including exclusion from continental competitions.
The draws mark the official start of the race for continental honours, with clubs across Africa aiming to progress through the preliminary rounds and into the group stages of the 2026/27 campaign.