By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 First Preliminary Round moves into its decisive return legs this week, with most of the ties across the continent set to be concluded.
Pyramids FC, TP Mazembe, Simba SC, Al Hilal and Atlético Petróleos are among the established names carrying valuable away victories into the second legs, while several other ties remain finely balanced following a competitive opening weekend.
The winners over the two legs move into the Second Preliminary Round, where some of the continent’s highest-ranked clubs await.
Pyramids FC are firmly in control of their tie after the Egyptian side defeated Kenyan champions Gor Mahia 2-0 in Nairobi.
Five-time African champions TP Mazembe also secured an important away victory, defeating Ghana’s Medeama SC 1-0 in Tarkwa to hand the DR Congo giants a narrow advantage to defend in Lubumbashi.
Tanzanian giants Simba SC return home in front after Anicet Oura’s second-half goal earned them a 1-0 victory against Mighty Wanderers in Malawi.
Angolan heavyweights Atlético Petróleos recorded the same scoreline away to Mozambique’s UD do Songo, while Senegal’s Teungueth FC won 1-0 at FC Canchungo of Guinea-Bissau.
Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman are in an even stronger position following an impressive 2-0 victory away to Burundi’s Aigle Noir.
Egyptian giants Zamalek also have an away advantage after winning 2-1 against AS Port in Djibouti and will look to finish the job when they host the return fixture.
Angola’s Wiliete produced one of the most emphatic results of the First Preliminary Round, defeating Seychelles representatives Foresters FC 4-0 to put themselves in a commanding position ahead of their return match.
Morocco’s Maghreb de Fès also made a powerful start, recording a 4-1 victory over Burkina Faso’s Rahimo FC.
Gabonese side AS Mangasport will travel to Namibia with a two-goal advantage after defeating African Stars 3-1, while Madagascar’s CFFA recorded a 2-0 victory against Lesotho’s Lijabatho.
While some teams have established clear advantages, several of the weekend’s most intriguing contests remain completely open.
South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu, Algeria’s JS Saoura and Libya’s Swehly SC also take 1-0 advantages into their respective return fixtures.
Aigles du Congo made a memorable start to their CAF Interclub campaign with a 1-0 victory against Rwanda’s APR FC, with Soze Zemanga scoring the first continental goal in the club’s history.
Mauritian debutants La Cure Waves produced one of the notable performances of the opening round by holding South African giants Orlando Pirates to a goalless draw.
The task becomes considerably tougher in the return match in South Africa, but the Mauritian champions travel knowing that they remain firmly in the contest after their first-ever Champions League appearance.
With most of the Second Preliminary Round places now just 90 minutes – or potentially more – away, the return fixtures are expected to deliver another round of high-stakes continental football.
CAF will provide clubs eliminated in the Preliminary Rounds with a USD 100,000 subvention to assist with travel and other logistical costs, part of the continued investment aimed at supporting clubs competing in the continent’s Interclub competitions.
The ultimate reward remains significant, with the club crowned TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners at the end of the season set to receive a record USD 6 million.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 – First Preliminary Round, Second Leg Fixtures:
Saturday, 12 September 2026
13h00: Al Hilal SC v Aigle Noir FC
13h00: Heegan SC v El Merriekh SC Bentiu
13h00: African Stars v AS Mangasport
13h00: Power Dynamos FC v Al Merreikh SC
13h00: Orlando Pirates FC v La Cure Waves SC
13h00: Nsingizini Hotspurs v Scottland FC
14h00: Lijabatho FC v CFFA
14h00: TP Mazembe v Medeama SC
15h00: Atlético Petróleos v UD do Songo
15h00: Rahimo FC v MAS Fès
16h00: Young Africans SC v Gaborone United FC
16h00: Djoliba AC de Bamako v Club Africain
16h30: Medina United FC v Star Sport Academy
17h00: Zamalek SC v AS Port
19h00: MC Alger v ASN Nigelec
Sunday, 13 September 2026
12h00: KVZ FC v Swehly SC
13h00: Simba SC v Mighty Wanderers
15h00: Rivers United v FC San Pedro
16h00: Stade Malien v Colombe Sportive DL
16h00: ASEC Mimosas v ASCK
16h00: Sidaama Buna FC v Aiglons FC N’Djamena
16h00: Horoya AC v JS Saoura
17h00: Pyramids FC v Gor Mahia FC
17h00: FC Nouadhibou v Vipers SC
17h00: Teungueth FC v FC Canchungo
Saturday, 3 October 2026
12h00: Fomboni FC de Moheli v 15 de Agosto
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