CAF Releases Full Schedule For 2026/27 Club Competitions
CAF Sets Stage for New Continental Campaign
THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the official calendar for the 2026/27 editions of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, providing clubs across the continent with a clear roadmap for the upcoming season.
The schedule outlines every major phase of both competitions, from the preliminary rounds to the finals, as Africa’s leading clubs prepare to battle for continental supremacy.
The announcement is expected to help participating teams align their domestic commitments with continental engagements while facilitating better planning by leagues, broadcasters and football administrators.
Preliminary Rounds Begin in September
According to the timetable, the race for continental honours will begin in September 2026 when clubs enter the preliminary rounds.
The first preliminary round will take place between 4 and 13 September, while teams that progress will advance to the second qualifying phase scheduled for 16 to 25 October.
These rounds traditionally feature clubs from across Africa seeking qualification into the lucrative group stage phase, where the continent’s elite teams begin to emerge.
Six Matchdays to Decide Group Stage Fate
Following qualification, attention will shift to the group stages of both tournaments.
CAF has scheduled the six rounds of group-stage fixtures between 27 November 2026 and 23 January 2027. During this period, clubs will compete home and away as they pursue places in the knockout rounds.
The group stage remains one of the most demanding phases of African club football, requiring teams to combine consistency, squad depth and long-distance travel management across different regions of the continent.
Road to the Finals Takes Shape
The knockout rounds will commence with the quarter-finals from 26 February to 7 March 2027.
Successful teams will then progress to the semi-finals scheduled between 9 and 17 April, with a place in the final at stake.
CAF has provisionally reserved a window between 9 and 31 May 2027 for the finals of both competitions, although exact dates and venues will be confirmed at a later stage.
Greater Predictability for African Clubs
The publication of the calendar reflects CAF’s continuing efforts to improve scheduling certainty in African football.
With clubs increasingly balancing domestic leagues, cup competitions, international tournaments and player welfare concerns, early confirmation of fixtures has become crucial.
The timetable gives participating teams sufficient time to prepare for the challenges ahead as they seek to lift either the CAF Champions League or CAF Confederation Cup trophy and secure their place among Africa’s football elite.
