Cairo: The draw for the 2026-2027 CAF Confederation Cup has been finalized, setting the stage for exciting matchups, particularly among top Arab clubs. Al Ahly of Egypt, a prominent figure in African football, will commence their Confederation Cup journey from the second preliminary round, with the potential for engaging Arab clashes ahead.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the draw held for the preliminary rounds has strategically positioned the highest-ranked teams, including Al Ahly, to bypass the first round, directly advancing to the second round based on their continental rankings. This privilege extends to other notable clubs such as Raja Casablanca and FAR Rabat from Morocco, USM Alger and CR Belouizdad from Algeria, reflecting the competitive landscape of the tournament.
The 56-team tournament structure has facilitated Al Ahly's entry into the second preliminary round, where they await the victor of the match between Mogadishu City of Somalia and Uganda's Kitara. This marks Al Ahly's return to the Confederation Cup after several years, having historically dominated the CAF Champions League.
In the first preliminary round, Egypt's Zed FC will compete against Djibouti's Telecom, with the successful team advancing to face Tanzania's Azam. Other significant matchups include Morocco's Raja Casablanca, poised to meet the winner of Nigeria's El Kanemi Warriors and Benin's Ouedah, while FAR Rabat will confront the winner of Chad's ASPSI and Ivory Coast's Kokorogo.
Defending champions USM Alger from Algeria are set to begin their title defense, and CR Belouizdad will also enter the competition with a match against the winner of Burkina Faso's AS Douanes and Guinea's Hafia Conakry. Meanwhile, Tunisia's CS Sfaxien faces Nigeria's Shooting Stars in the first round.
The tournament is scheduled to unfold with first-round matches from September 4 to 6, 2026, followed by return legs from September 11 to 13. The second preliminary round will occur in October, with the group stage commencing in December and running through January 2027. The decisive stages, including quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final, are set for early to mid-2027.
As USM Alger enters as defending champions, having triumphed over Zamalek in the previous edition, the stakes are high with a $4 million prize awaiting the victor. Additionally, the Confederation of African Football has allocated financial support for clubs eliminated in the preliminary rounds, emphasizing the organization's commitment to fostering competitive participation.
With a keen focus on Arab club performances, spectators anticipate the forthcoming clashes involving Al Ahly, Raja Casablanca, FAR Rabat, and USM Alger, all vying for continental glory in the 2026-2027 CAF Confederation Cup.