Source: @CAF online
The CAF Champion League’s calendar has the first preliminary-round matches scheduled for 4 to 6 September 2026, with return legs from 11 to 13 September. The second preliminary round follows in October before the group phase begins towards the end of November.
These three clubs bring very different stories into the competition, but each has enough continental pedigree and recent form to make them teams worth following.
Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns are the obvious starting point after their 2025/26 Champions League triumph. The South African champions defeated AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate in the final, securing their second CAF Champions League title after their first success in 2016.
What makes Sundowns particularly interesting for the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League is the manner in which they won the competition. Their run included a 2-0 aggregate semi-final victory over Espérance before a disciplined final against AS FAR, where a 1-0 first-leg victory at Loftus Versfeld and a 1-1 draw in Rabat proved sufficient.
The continental pedigree is now backed by a squad accustomed to high-pressure knockout football. The club has also retained the technical structure that helped it navigate the previous campaign, with Miguel Cardoso continuing as head coach. Sundowns’ tactical identity remains built around possession, positional rotations and the ability to control matches without sacrificing attacking threat.
There is another important factor. Sundowns have already demonstrated that they can beat the strongest North African opposition over two legs, rather than relying solely on home advantage. Their victories over Espérance and AS FAR provide recent evidence of that.
The 2026/27 season will therefore test whether Sundowns can turn a breakthrough continental campaign into sustained dominance. They are no longer chasing recognition in Africa. They enter as the reigning champions with a target on their backs.
Espérance de Tunis
Espérance de Tunis do not need an introduction to African club football, but their recent Champions League campaign gives particular reason to watch them again.
The Tunisian side reached the 2025/26 semi-finals after eliminating Al Ahly in the quarter-finals. Espérance won 1-0 in Tunis before producing a 3-2 victory in Cairo to complete a 4-2 aggregate success.
Their campaign ended against Sundowns, with the South Africans winning both semi-final legs 1-0. That result should not obscure the strength of Espérance’s run. They were one of only four teams left in the competition and had already negotiated one of the continent’s most difficult knockout ties.
The more significant change comes from the dugout. Espérance appointed Romanian coach Laurențiu Reghecampf in June 2026, with Viorel Dinu Moldovan joining his technical staff as first assistant. Former club captain Khalil Chammam was also appointed as head of the first team.
That represents a substantial change from the side that faced Sundowns, making Espérance one of the more interesting tactical stories of the new campaign. Reghecampf inherits a club with deep Champions League experience and a squad that includes several international players, while the summer transfer window has also brought changes to the playing group.
The biggest question is how quickly the new technical regime can establish its preferred structure. Espérance has the continental experience to navigate difficult away fixtures, but the transition to a new coach will make their early group-stage performances especially significant.
Pyramids FC
Pyramids FC has moved remarkably quickly from ambitious Egyptian club to established continental contender. They won their first CAF Champions League title in 2025 by beating Sundowns 3-2 on aggregate, becoming only the fourth Egyptian club to lift the trophy.
Their title defence in 2025/26 showed that the previous campaign was not a one-off. Pyramids topped their Champions League group with 16 points from six matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding only twice. They subsequently reached the quarter-finals, where FAR Rabat eliminated them 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-1 defeat in the second leg in Egypt.
The biggest change ahead of the new season is on the touchline. South African coach Rhulani Mokwena was appointed in July after the departure of Krunoslav Jurčić. Mokwena previously worked at Mamelodi Sundowns and arrives with extensive experience of African club football.
His first pre-season programme has already included a training camp in Turkey, where he worked with a squad containing established figures such as Walid El Karti, Mohamed Chibi, Ahmed Samy and Mostafa Fathi.
That coaching change makes Pyramids particularly interesting to follow. The squad already has recent Champions League-winning experience, while Mokwena brings a different tactical perspective shaped by his years in South African football. Their ability to combine that experience with a new technical approach could make them one of the most difficult sides to assess when the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League gets underway.
Where to watch
Kick-off times and confirmed broadcast schedules for the individual 2026/27 fixtures have not yet been released, so exact match times should be checked closer to each game. In South Africa, SuperSport has been among CAF’s principal broadcasters, while SABC has also carried CAF Champions League fixtures.
For analysis beyond the live matches, follow Fut Afrique for expert match previews and recaps covering the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League.
