2025–26 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds

2025–26 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds
Dates16 September – 1 November 2025
Tournament statistics
Matches played92
Goals scored185 (2.01 per match)
2026–27

The 2025–26 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds began on 16 September and ended on 1 November 2025. 62 teams competed in these rounds to decide the 16 places in the group stage of the 2025–26 CAF Champions League.

All times are local.

Draw

The draw for the qualifying rounds was held on 9 August 2025, 10:00 GMT (13:00 local time, UTC+3), in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.[1]

With 62 clubs registered to take part in the qualifying rounds, two clubs have received byes to the second round. The remaining sides have been placed in pots depending on their CAF 5-year ranking and were drawn taking into account several factors, including geographical location.[2]

Entry round Second round
(2 teams)
First round
(60 teams)
Teams Pot 1
(8 teams)
Pot 2
(14 teams)
Pot 3
(16 teams)
Pot 4
(4 teams)
Pot 5
(4 teams)
Pot 6
(2 teams)
Pot 7
(4 teams)
Highest ranked teams
(8 teams)

Format

In the qualifying rounds, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule was applied, and if still tied, extra time was not played, and a penalty shoot-out was used to determine the winner (Regulations III. 13 & 14).

Schedule

The schedule of the competition was as follows.

Schedule for the 2025–26 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds
Round Draw date First leg Second leg
First round 9 August 2025 19–21 September 2025 26–28 September 2025
Second round 17–19 October 2025 24–26 October 2025

Bracket

The bracket of the draw was announced by the CAF on 9 August 2025.[3]

The 16 winners of the second round advanced to the group stage.

First round Second round
          
1 Aigle Noir (a) 0 1 1
4 ASAS Djibouti Télécom 0 1 1
Aigle Noir 0 0 0
Al Ahly 1 1 2
First round Second round
          
1 Ethiopian Insurance 2 2 4
4 Mlandege 0 3 3
Ethiopian Insurance 1 0 1
Pyramids 1 2 3
3 APR 0 0 0
2 Pyramids 2 3 5
First round Second round
          
1 Mogadishu City 1 2 3
4 Kenya Police (a) 3 0 3
Kenya Police 0 1 1
Al Hilal 1 3 4
3 Jamus 0 0 0
2 Al Hilal 0 1 1
First round Second round
          
1 Rahimo 0 0 0 (4)
4 Mangasport 0 0 0 (2)
Rahimo 0 0 0
Espérance de Tunis 1 3 4
3 AS FAN 0 1 1
2 Espérance de Tunis 3 4 7
First round Second round
          
1 Dadjè 0 0 0
4 Al Ahli Tripoli 0 1 1
Al Ahli Tripoli 1 1 2
RS Berkane 1 2 3
3 ASC Kara 1 1 2
2 RS Berkane 1 3 4
First round Second round
          
1 East End Lions 0 1 1
4 US Monastir 4 3 7
US Monastir 0 1 1
JS Kabylie 3 2 5
3 Bibiani Gold Stars 0 0 0
2 JS Kabylie 2 5 7
First round Second round
          
1 Fundación Bata 0 0 0
4 FC Nouadhibou 0 2 2
FC Nouadhibou 1 0 1
Stade Malien 1 2 3
3 AS Tempête 0 0 0
2 Stade Malien 5 2 7
First round Second round
          
1 Al Hilal Benghazi 1 0 1
4 Horoya 0 2 2
Horoya 1 0 1
AS FAR 1 3 4
3 Real de Banjul 0 1 1
2 AS FAR 2 2 4
First round Second round
          
1 Colombe Sportive 0 1 1
4 ASC Jaraaf 0 0 0
Colombe Sportive 1 0 1
MC Alger (a) 1 0 1
3 Fassell 0 0 0
2 MC Alger 0 3 3
First round Second round
          
1 Remo Stars 4 1 5
4 US Zilimadjou 0 0 0
Remo Stars 1 0 1
Mamelodi Sundowns 5 2 7
First round Second round
          
1 Simba Bhora 1 0 1 (2)
4 Nsingizini Hotspurs (p) 0 1 1 (4)
Nsingizini Hotspurs 0 0 0
Simba 3 0 3
3 Gaborone United 0 1 1
2 Simba 1 1 2
First round Second round
          
1 Elgeco Plus 1 0 1
4 Silver Strikers (a) 1 0 1
Silver Strikers 1 0 1
Young Africans 0 2 2
3 Wiliete 0 0 0
2 Young Africans 3 2 5
First round Second round
          
1 Côte d'Or 0 1 1
4 Stade d'Abidjan 2 3 5
Stade d'Abidjan 0 0 0
Petro de Luanda 2 2 4
3 Cercle de Joachim 0 0 0
2 Petro de Luanda 3 3 6
First round Second round
          
1 AC Léopards 0 0 0 (4)
4 Black Bulls (p) 0 0 0 (5)
Black Bulls 1 1 2
Rivers United 0 3 3
3 Aigles du Congo 0 0 0
2 Rivers United 0 1 1
First round Second round
          
1 African Stars 0 0 0
4 Vipers 1 1 2
Vipers 1 1 2
Power Dynamos 2 1 3
3 Power Dynamos (p) 1 0 1 (5)
2 ASEC Mimosas 0 1 1 (4)
First round Second round
          
1 Saint-Éloi Lupopo 1 0 1
4 Al Merrikh 0 0 0
Saint-Éloi Lupopo 3 0 3 (5)
Orlando Pirates 0 3 3 (4)
3 Lioli 0 0 0
2 Orlando Pirates 3 4 7

First round

The first round, also called the first preliminary round, included the 60 teams that did not receive byes to the second round.

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Aigle Noir 1–1 (a) ASAS Djibouti Télécom0–01–1
Ethiopian Insurance 4–3 Mlandege2–02–3
APR 0–5 Pyramids0–20–3
Mogadishu City 3–3 (a) Kenya Police1–32–0
Jamus 0–1 Al Hilal0–00–1
Rahimo 0–0 (4–2 p) Mangasport0–00–0
AS FAN 1–7 Espérance de Tunis0–31–4
Dadjè 0–1 Al Ahli Tripoli0–00–1
ASC Kara 2–4 RS Berkane1–11–3
East End Lions 1–7 US Monastir0–41–3
Bibiani Gold Stars 0–7 JS Kabylie0–20–5
Fundación Bata 0–2 FC Nouadhibou0–00–2
AS Tempête 0–7 Stade Malien0–50–2
Al Hilal Benghazi 1–2 Horoya1–00–2
Real de Banjul 1–4 AS FAR0–21–2
Colombe Sportive 1–0 ASC Jaraaf0–01–0
Fassell 0–3 MC Alger0–00–3
Remo Stars 5–0 US Zilimadjou4–01–0
Simba Bhora 1–1 (2–4 p) Nsingizini Hotspurs1–00–1
Gaborone United 1–2 Simba0–11–1
Elgeco Plus 1–1 (a) Silver Strikers1–10–0
Wiliete 0–5 Young Africans0–30–2
Côte d'Or 1–5 Stade d'Abidjan0–21–3
Cercle de Joachim 0–6 Petro de Luanda0–30–3
AC Léopards 0–0 (4–5 p) Black Bulls0–00–0
Aigles du Congo 0–1 Rivers United0–00–1
African Stars 0–2 Vipers0–10–1
Power Dynamos 1–1 (5–4 p) ASEC Mimosas1–00–1
Saint-Éloi Lupopo 1–0 Al Merrikh1–00–0
Lioli 0–7 Orlando Pirates0–30–4
Aigle Noir 0–0 ASAS Djibouti Télécom
Report
ASAS Djibouti Télécom 1–1 Aigle Noir
  • Sudi 45+3' (pen.)
Report
  • Ndayikengurukiye 64'

1–1 on aggregate. Aigle Noir won on away goals.


Ethiopian Insurance 2–0 Mlandege
  • Erbo 25'
  • Mulugeta 58'
Report
Mlandege 3–2 Ethiopian Insurance
Report

Ethiopian Insurance won 4–3 on aggregate.


APR 0–2 Pyramids
Report
Pyramids 3–0 APR
Report

Pyramids won 5–0 on aggregate.


Mogadishu City 1–3 Kenya Police
  • Marsis 50'
Report
  • Zakayo 15'
  • Omondi 57'
  • Simiyu 70'
Kenya Police 0–2 Mogadishu City
Report

3–3 on aggregate. Kenya Police won on away goals.


Jamus 0–0 Al Hilal
Report
Al Hilal 1–0 Jamus
  • Girumugisha 24'
Report

Al Hilal won 1–0 on aggregate.


Rahimo 0–0 Mangasport
Report
Mangasport 0–0 Rahimo
Report
Penalties
2–4

0–0 on aggregate. Rahimo won 4–2 on penalties.


AS FAN 0–3 Espérance de Tunis
Referee: Ousmane Diakité (Mali)
Espérance de Tunis 4–1 AS FAN
Report
  • Addae 33'
Referee: Ruth Bilembi (Congo)

Espérance de Tunis won 7–1 on aggregate.


Dadjè 0–0 Al Ahli Tripoli
Report
Al Ahli Tripoli 1–0 Dadjè
Report

Al Ahli Tripoli won 1–0 on aggregate.


ASC Kara 1–1 RS Berkane
  • Ouro-Ayeva 47'
Report
RS Berkane 3–1 ASC Kara
Report
  • Tagba 55'

RS Berkane won 4–2 on aggregate.


East End Lions 0–4 US Monastir
Report
  • Bari 35' (o.g.)
  • Amri 61'
  • Bodian 89'
  • Elhmidi 90+5'
US Monastir 3–1 East End Lions
Report

US Monastir won 7–1 on aggregate.


Bibiani Gold Stars 0–2 JS Kabylie
Report
Referee: Georges Gotogato (Burundi)
JS Kabylie 5–0 Bibiani Gold Stars
Report

JS Kabylie won 7–0 on aggregate.


Fundación Bata 0–0 FC Nouadhibou
Report
FC Nouadhibou 2–0 Fundación Bata
Report

FC Nouadhibou won 2–0 on aggregate.


AS Tempête 0–5 Stade Malien
Report
Stade Malien 2–0 AS Tempête
Report

Stade Malien won 7–0 on aggregate.


Al Hilal Benghazi 1–0 Horoya
  • Al-Maghasi 14'
Report
Horoya 2–0 Al Hilal Benghazi
Report

Horoya won 2–1 on aggregate.


Real de Banjul 0–2 AS FAR
Report
AS FAR 2–1 Real de Banjul
Report
  • Cesay 78'

AS FAR won 4–1 on aggregate.


Colombe Sportive 0–0 ASC Jaraaf
Report
ASC Jaraaf 0–1 Colombe Sportive
Report

Colombe Sportive won 1–0 on aggregate.


Fassell 0–0 MC Alger
Report
MC Alger 3–0 Fassell
Report
Referee: Lamin Jammeh (Gambia)

MC Alger won 3–0 on aggregate.


Remo Stars 4–0 US Zilimadjou
  • Ngenge 12'
  • Anthony 45'
  • Goita 68'
  • Olasupo 79'
Report
US Zilimadjou 0–1 Remo Stars
Report

Remo Stars won 5–0 on aggregate.


Simba Bhora 1–0 Nsingizini Hotspurs
  • Nyanhi 56'
Report
Nsingizini Hotspurs 1–0 Simba Bhora
Report
Penalties
4–2

1–1 on aggregate. Nsingizini Hotspurs won 4–2 on penalties.


Gaborone United 0–1 Simba
Report
  • Mpanzu 16'
Simba 1–1 Gaborone United
Report

Simba won 2–1 on aggregate.


Elgeco Plus 1–1 Silver Strikers
  • Tony 13'
Report
  • Joseph 55'
National Sports Complex Pitch 1, Saint Pierre (Mauritius)
Silver Strikers 0–0 Elgeco Plus
Report

1–1 on aggregate. Silver Strikers won on away goals.


Wiliete 0–3 Young Africans
Report
  • Andabwile 31'
  • Godfrey 72'
  • Dube 81'
Referee: Nidhal Letaief (Tunisia)
Young Africans 2–0 Wiliete
  • Pacóme Zouzoua 71'
  • Aziz Andabwile 87'
Report

Young Africans won 5–0 on aggregate.


Côte d'Or 0–2 Stade d'Abidjan
Report
  • Sangaré 35'
  • Bagnama 45'
National Sports Complex Pitch 1, Saint Pierre (Mauritius)
Stade d'Abidjan 3–1 Côte d'Or
  • Bagnama 12', 43'
  • Sangaré 45'
Report
  • Mbolatovo 66'

Stade d'Abidjan won 5–1 on aggregate.


Cercle de Joachim 0–3 Petro de Luanda
Report
National Sports Complex Pitch 1, Saint Pierre
Petro de Luanda 3–0 Cercle de Joachim
Report

Petro de Luanda won 6–0 on aggregate.


AC Léopards 0–0 Black Bulls
Report
Black Bulls 0–0 AC Léopards
Report
Penalties
5–4
Campo da ABB, Maputo

0–0 on aggregate. Black Bulls won 5–4 on penalties.


Aigles du Congo 0–0 Rivers United
Report
Rivers United 1–0 Aigles du Congo
Report

Rivers United won 1–0 on aggregate.


African Stars 0–1 Vipers
Report
Vipers 1–0 African Stars
Report

Vipers won 2–0 on aggregate.


Power Dynamos 1–0 ASEC Mimosas
  • Kashita 8'
Report
ASEC Mimosas 1–0 Power Dynamos
  • Fofana 53'
Report
Penalties
4–5

1–1 on aggregate. Power Dynamos won 5–4 on penalties.


Saint-Éloi Lupopo 1–0 Al Merrikh
Report
Al Merrikh 0–0 Saint-Éloi Lupopo
Report
Referee: Mehrez Melki (Tunisia)

Saint-Éloi Lupopo won 1–0 on aggregate.


Lioli 0–3 Orlando Pirates
Report
Orlando Pirates 4–0 Lioli
Report

Orlando Pirates won 7–0 on aggregate.

Second round

The second round, also called the second preliminary round, included 32 teams: the 2 teams that received byes to this round, and the 30 winners of the first round.

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Aigle Noir 0–2 Al Ahly0–10–1
Ethiopian Insurance 1–3 Pyramids1–10–2
Kenya Police 1–4 Al Hilal0–11–3
Rahimo 0–4 Espérance de Tunis0–10–3
Al Ahli Tripoli 2–3 RS Berkane1–11–2
US Monastir 1–5 JS Kabylie0–31–2
FC Nouadhibou 1–3 Stade Malien1–10–2
Horoya 1–4 AS FAR1–10–3
Colombe Sportive 1–1 (a) MC Alger1–10–0
Remo Stars 1–7 Mamelodi Sundowns1–50–2
Nsingizini Hotspurs 0–3 Simba0–30–0
Silver Strikers 1–2 Young Africans1–00–2
Stade d'Abidjan 0–4 Petro de Luanda0–20–2
Black Bulls 2–3 Rivers United1–01–3
Vipers 2–3 Power Dynamos1–21–1
Saint-Éloi Lupopo 3–3 (5–4 p) Orlando Pirates3–00–3
Aigle Noir 0–1 Al Ahly
Report
Referee: Luxolo Badi (South Africa)
Al Ahly 1–0 Aigle Noir
Report

Al Ahly won 2–0 on aggregate.


Ethiopian Insurance 1–1 Pyramids
  • Mulugeta 83'
Report
Referee: Keabetswe Dintwa (Botswana)
Pyramids 2–0 Ethiopian Insurance
Report

Pyramids won 3–1 on aggregate.


Kenya Police 0–1 Al Hilal
Report Coulibaly 20'
Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi
Referee: Rodrigue Bigirimana (Burundi)
Al Hilal 3–1 Kenya Police
Report
  • Zakayo 53'

Al Hilal won 4–1 on aggregate.


Rahimo 0–1 Espérance de Tunis
Report
Referee: Boubou Traoré (Mali)
Espérance de Tunis 3–0 Rahimo
Report
Referee: Jalal Jayed (Morocco)

Espérance de Tunis won 4–0 on aggregate.


Al Ahli Tripoli 1–1 RS Berkane
Report
  • Bassène 69'
RS Berkane 2–1 Al Ahli Tripoli
  • Bassène 28'
  • Khairi 54'
Report

RS Berkane won 3–2 on aggregate.


US Monastir 0–3 JS Kabylie
Report
Referee: Pierre Ghislain Atcho (Gabon)
JS Kabylie 2–1 US Monastir
Report
  • Chikhaoui 22'
Referee: Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya)

JS Kabylie won 5–1 on aggregate.


FC Nouadhibou 1–1 Stade Malien
Dembélé 85' Report Coulibaly 40'
Stade Malien 2–0 FC Nouadhibou
Nkeng 42', 78' Report
Referee: Washington Dolo (Liberia)

Stade Malien won 3–1 on aggregate.


Horoya 1–1 AS FAR
Sylla 22' Report Khabba 62'
Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala (DR Congo)
AS FAR 3–0 Horoya
Report

AS FAR won 4–1 on aggregate.


Colombe Sportive 1–1 MC Alger
  • Loemba 14'
Report
Referee: Mohamed Athoumani (Comoros)
MC Alger 0–0 Colombe Sportive
Report
Referee: Charles Benle Bulu (Ghana)

1–1 on aggregate. MC Alger won on away goals.


Remo Stars 1–5 Mamelodi Sundowns
  • Olasupo 77'
Report
Referee: Abdou Abdel Mefire (Cameroon)
Mamelodi Sundowns 2–0 Remo Stars
Report
Referee: Dick Okello (Uganda)

Mamelodi Sundowns won 7–1 on aggregate.


Nsingizini Hotspurs 0–3 Simba
Report
Simba 0–0 Nsingizini Hotspurs
Report
Referee: Grema Mohammed (Nigeria)

Simba won 3–0 on aggregate.


Silver Strikers 1–0 Young Africans
Yosefe 76' Report
Young Africans 2–0 Silver Strikers
  • Job 6'
  • Zouzoua 34'
Report
Referee: Raphiou Ligali (Benin)

Young Africans won 2–1 on aggregate.


Stade d'Abidjan 0–2 Petro de Luanda
Report
  • Benny Dias 82'
  • Vanilson 90+2'
Petro de Luanda 2–0 Stade d'Abidjan
Tiago Reis 20', 46' Report
Referee: Cumar Cabdiqaadir Cartan (Somalia)

Petro de Luanda won 4–0 on aggregate.


Black Bulls 1–0 Rivers United
Diallo 50' Report
Campo da ABB, Maputo
Referee: Mweshitsama Naftal (Namibia)
Rivers United 3–1 Black Bulls
Report
  • Diallo 47'

Rivers United won 3–2 on aggregate.


Vipers 1–2 Power Dynamos
Report
Power Dynamos 1–1 Vipers
Report

Power Dynamos won 3–2 on aggregate.


Orlando Pirates 3–0 Saint-Éloi Lupopo
Report
Penalties
4–5

3–3 on aggregate. Saint-Éloi Lupopo won 5–4 on penalties.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Libyan teams were listed as Libya 1 and Libya 2 during the draw; as their identity was still unknown by the time of the draw.
  2. ^ a b Congolese teams were listed as DR Congo 1 and DR Congo 2 during the draw; as their identity was still unknown by the time of the draw.

References

  1. ^ "CAF to stage the TotalEnergies CAF Interclub Preliminary Draw in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Saturday". CAFOnline.com. 5 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Draw procedure and Pots for the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Preliminary rounds announced". CAFOnline.com. 8 August 2025.
  3. ^ "TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2025/26 Preliminary Round Draw serves up high-stakes clashes". Confederation of African Football. 9 August 2025.