Kaizer Chiefs learn possible CAF Confederation Cup opponents after preliminary draw

Kaizer Chiefs will face either Red Arrows of Zambia or Madagascar’s FC Rouge in the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup after the draw for the 2026/27 competition was made on Thursday.

The South African giants received a bye into the second preliminary round, meaning they are just one tie away from securing a place in the group stage.

However, Chiefs have been handed a potentially difficult assignment, with Red Arrows expected to provide a stern test should they overcome FC Rouge in the opening round. While the Malagasy side may appear the more favourable opponent on paper, neither fixture will be straightforward as Amakhosi aim to go one better than last season’s group-stage exit.

Durban City begin in the first preliminary round

Fellow South African side Durban City will start their continental campaign in the first preliminary round against Rukinzo FC of Burundi.

Should Durban City progress, they will face either AS Port Louis 2000 of Mauritius or Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy for a place in the group stage.

First preliminary round fixtures

• Mogadishu CC (Somalia) vs Kitara FC (Uganda)
• ZED FC (Egypt) vs ASAS Djibouti Télécom (Djibouti)
• Al Hilal Alsahil (Sudan) vs Welwalo Adigrat (Ethiopia)
• KMKM SC (Zanzibar) vs Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya)
• Al Ahli Madani (Sudan) vs Tusker FC (Kenya)
• Al-Ghazala SC Wau (South Sudan) vs Singida Black Stars (Tanzania)
• The Panthers FC (Equatorial Guinea) vs ASPAC FC (Benin)
• AS PSI (Chad) vs CO Korhogo (Côte d’Ivoire)
• AS Douanes (Mauritania) vs Hafia FC (Guinea)
• El Kanemi Warriors (Nigeria) vs UDIB (Guinea-Bissau)
• AF Amadou Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire) vs East End Lions (Sierra Leone)
• Shooting Stars (Nigeria) vs CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)
• ES Zarzis (Tunisia) vs Diambars FC (Senegal)
• Vitesse FC (Burkina Faso) vs AS Real de Bamako (Mali)
• FC Diarra (Mali) vs Nations FC (Ghana)
• AS ZAM (Niger) vs ASKO de Kara (Togo)
• UNAM (Namibia) vs Kabuscorp de Palanca (Angola)
• Red Arrows (Zambia) vs FC Rouge (Madagascar)
• Durban City (South Africa) vs Rukinzo FC (Burundi)
• AS Port Louis 2000 (Mauritius) vs Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana)
• Panthère Sportive (Cameroon) vs Rayon Sports (Rwanda)
• Atomic Ngomé (Comoros) vs Associação Black Bulls (Mozambique)
• DC Virunga (DR Congo) vs PTL Bazar Brothers (Seychelles)
• Green Mamba (Eswatini) vs CD Primeiro de Agosto (Angola)

Second preliminary round fixtures

The winners of the opening ties will be joined by the seeded clubs, with several heavyweight teams entering the competition.

Notable ties include:

• Winner of Mogadishu CC/Kitara FC vs Al Ahly
• Winner of ZED FC/ASAS Djibouti Télécom vs Azam FC
• Winner of The Panthers/ASPAC FC vs USM Alger
• Winner of AS PSI/CO Korhogo vs AS FAR
• Winner of AS Douanes/Hafia FC vs CR Belouizdad
• Winner of El Kanemi Warriors/UDIB vs Raja Casablanca
• Red Arrows or FC Rouge vs Kaizer Chiefs
• Winner of Durban City/Rukinzo FC vs winner of AS Port Louis 2000/Jwaneng Galaxy

With a place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage on the line, Kaizer Chiefs will be hoping to make a strong start to their continental campaign and improve on last season’s performance.