CAF Announces Schedule for 2026-2027 Champions League and Confederation Cup

The Confederation of caf-champions-league-mandoh-abbas-awards-players-exceptional-bonuses/">African Football (CAF) has officially released the complete schedule for the Africa Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup for the 2026-2027 season. This announcement is part of an organizational plan aimed at refining the calendar for continental competitions in the upcoming period.

The schedule outlines all phases of both tournaments, from the preliminary rounds to the final match, ensuring that participating clubs have a clear timeline to prepare for the new season.

Preliminary Rounds

The first phase of qualifying will commence in September, with first-leg matches taking place on September 4, 5, and 6. The second legs will follow on September 11, 12, and 13, featuring wide participation from clubs across the continent.

Competition will continue in October with the second preliminary round, where first-leg matches are scheduled for October 16, 17, and 18, while return matches will be held on October 23, 24, and 25.

Group Stage

The group stage will kick off in late November, with the first round of matches set for November 27, 28, and 29. Subsequent rounds will take place throughout December and January, culminating in the sixth and final round in January 2027.

Knockout Stage

The knockout phase will see the quarter-finals begin in February. First-leg matches are scheduled between February 26 and February 28, while second-leg matches will be held from March 5 to March 7.

The semi-finals are set for April, with first-leg matches on April 9, 10, and 11. The return legs are planned for April 16, 17, and 18.

Final Match

CAF has designated a window for the final match between May 9 and May 31, 2027. Exact dates for both legs will be announced later.

The Africa Champions League is regarded as the premier club competition on the continent, bringing together top teams in a competitive format that starts with preliminary rounds and progresses through group stages to knockout rounds leading up to the final match.