CAF Champions League: Decisive Preliminary Round Return Legs Take Centre Stage

The TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2026/27 First Preliminary Round moves into its decisive return legs this week, with most of the ties across the continent set to be concluded.

Pyramids FC, TP Mazembe, Simba SC, Al Hilal and Atlético Petróleos are among the established names carrying valuable away victories into the second legs, while several other ties remain finely balanced following a competitive opening weekend.

The winners over the two legs move into the Second Preliminary Round, where some of the continent’s highest-ranked clubs await. Pyramids FC are firmly in control of their tie after the Egyptian side defeated Kenyan champions Gor Mahia 2-0 in Nairobi.

Part of the action during the Gor Mahia vs Pyramids match in Nairobi. Photo: Gor Mahia FC/Facebook.

Five-time African champions TP Mazembe also secured an important away victory, defeating Ghana’s Medeama SC 1-0 in Tarkwa to hand the DR Congo giants a narrow advantage to defend in Lubumbashi. Tanzanian giants Simba SC return home in front after Anicet Oura’s second-half goal earned them a 1-0 victory against Mighty Wanderers in Malawi.

Who are the favourites to proceed from CAF Champions League First Preliminary Round?

Angolan heavyweights Atlético Petróleos recorded the same scoreline away to Mozambique’s UD do Songo, while Senegal’s Teungueth FC won 1-0 at FC Canchungo of Guinea-Bissau. Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman are in an even stronger position following an impressive 2-0 victory away to Burundi’s Aigle Noir.

Egyptian giants Zamalek also have an away advantage after winning 2-1 against AS Port in Djibouti and will look to finish the job when they host the return fixture.

Angola’s Wiliete produced one of the most emphatic results of the First Preliminary Round, defeating Seychelles representatives Foresters FC 4-0 to put themselves in a commanding position ahead of their return match. Morocco’s Maghreb de Fès also made a powerful start, recording a 4-1 victory over Burkina Faso’s Rahimo FC.

Gabonese side AS Mangasport will travel to Namibia with a two-goal advantage after defeating African Stars 3-1, while Madagascar’s CFFA recorded a 2-0 victory against Lesotho’s Lijabatho.

CAF Champions League contests that are still open

While some teams have established clear advantages, several of the weekend’s most intriguing contests remain completely open. South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu, Algeria’s JS Saoura and Libya’s Swehly SC also take 1-0 advantages into their respective return fixtures.

Aigles du Congo made a memorable start to their CAF Interclub campaign with a 1-0 victory against Rwanda’s APR FC, with Soze Zemanga scoring the first continental goal in the club’s history. Mauritian debutants La Cure Waves produced one of the notable performances of the opening round by holding South African giants Orlando Pirates to a goalless draw.

The task becomes considerably tougher in the return match in South Africa, but the Mauritian champions travel knowing that they remain firmly in the contest after their first-ever Champions League appearance.

Rwanda's APR FC players — Rwanda’s APR FC players during training ahead of the second leg CAF Champions League clash against Aigles du Congo at home. They lost 01 in the first leg. Photo: APR FC Rwanda/Facebook.

With most of the Second Preliminary Round places now just 90 minutes – or potentially more – away, the return fixtures are expected to deliver another round of high-stakes continental football.

CAF will provide clubs eliminated in the Preliminary Rounds with a USD 100,000 subvention to assist with travel and other logistical costs, part of the continued investment aimed at supporting clubs competing in the continent’s Interclub competitions.

The ultimate reward remains significant, with the club crowned TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners at the end of the season set to receive a record USD 6 million.