CAF Closes Registration for 2026/27 Champions League, Confederation Cup

Posted : 17 August 2026

The Confederation of African Football has closed the registration window for clubs participating in the first preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. The deadline marks the next stage of preparations for Africa’s two major men’s club competitions.

Clubs involved in the opening round were required to submit their eligible player lists through CAF’s registration system. CAF regulations state that player registrations must meet the competition deadlines before the relevant lists become final.

The first preliminary round will involve clubs beginning their continental campaigns from the opening stage. Teams that received exemptions will not be affected by the closure in the same way, as they enter the competitions from the second preliminary round.

Among the notable clubs expected to begin later are South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, Tunisia’s Espérance de Tunis and Tanzania’s Azam FC. Their seeding or exemptions give them additional preparation time before entering the continental race.

The exemption system is designed to reward higher-ranked clubs and associations while allowing the competitions to progress through a structured preliminary phase. The clubs joining in the second round will face teams that survive the opening stage.

CAF’s official 2026 competition calendar places the inter-club preliminary rounds in August and September. The schedule lists the first preliminary-round return matches in August, followed by the second preliminary round later in the year.

The registration process is an important part of the competition because only properly registered and eligible players can feature. CAF’s Champions League regulations require clubs to submit player information, including licences and other required documentation, through the approved registration process.

For clubs entering at the second preliminary round, the extended preparation period could prove valuable. They will have more time to complete squad planning, assess new signings and prepare for their first continental fixtures.

The 2026/27 Champions League will again bring together many of Africa’s leading clubs as they compete for the continent’s biggest club prize. The Confederation Cup will provide another route to continental success for clubs competing outside the Champions League places.

With the first registration window now closed, attention will shift towards the preliminary-round fixtures. The clubs entering at the next stage will also begin final preparations for their continental campaigns.

CAF Closes Registration for 2026/27 Champions League, Confederation Cup

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