CAF Champions League: Rangers, Rivers United Learn Road to Group Stage as Preliminary Round Draws Are Confirmed
Nigeria’s representatives in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, Enugu Rangers and Rivers United, now know the route they must navigate to reach the group stage following Thursday’s preliminary round draw.
The draw has handed both Nigerian clubs byes into the second preliminary round, meaning they will not be involved in the opening round scheduled for September.
Rangers will face the winner of the first-round tie between ASN Nigelec of Niger Republic and Algerian giants MC Alger.
Rivers United, meanwhile, will take on the winner of the first-round encounter between Vipers SC of Uganda and FC Nouadhibhou of Mauritania.
The first preliminary round is scheduled for 4–6 September 2026, with the return legs fixed for 11–13 September.
The second preliminary round will then be played on 16–18 October, with the return fixtures scheduled for 23–25 October.
Both Nigerian clubs will therefore need to overcome one more two-legged tie after entering the competition at the second preliminary round to secure their places in the group stage.
Elsewhere, Scottland FC will begin their continental campaign against Eswatini champions Nsingizini Hotspurs in the first preliminary round.
Should Scottland advance, they will meet the winner of UD Songo of Mozambique and Petro Atlético of Angola in the second round.
The 2026/27 CAF inter-club draws were conducted as Nigerian clubs prepare for another campaign on the continent.
CAF Champions League Preliminary Round at a Glance
Tie
First Preliminary Round
1
Wiliete Benguela (Angola) vs Forest Rangers (Zambia)
2
Scottland FC vs Nsingizini Hotspurs (Eswatini)
3
UD Songo (Mozambique) vs Petro Atlético (Angola)
4
AS Mangasport (Gabon) vs African Stars (Namibia)
5
La Cure Waves (Seychelles) vs Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
6
15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea) vs Fomboni FC (Comoros)
7
Mighty Wanderers (Malawi) vs Simba SC (Tanzania)
8
CFA vs Liabatho FC
9
Gaborone United (Botswana) vs Young Africans (Tanzania)
10
Svehly SC vs KVZ FC
11
Aigles du Congo (DR Congo) vs APR FC (Rwanda)
12
AS Port vs Zamalek SC (Egypt)
13
Merrieikh Bentiu (South Sudan) vs Opponent TBC
14
Opponent TBC vs Pyramids FC (Egypt)
15
Opponents TBC
Nigerian Clubs’ Route to the Group Stage
Enugu Rangers:
Second Preliminary Round — Winner of ASN Nigelec (Niger) vs MC Alger (Algeria)
Rivers United:
Second Preliminary Round — Winner of Vipers SC (Uganda) vs FC Nouadhibhou (Mauritania)
Key Dates
First Preliminary Round, first legs: September 4–6, 2026
First Preliminary Round, second legs: September 11–13, 2026
Second Preliminary Round, first legs: October 16–18, 2026
Second Preliminary Round, second legs: October 23–25, 2026.
