CAIRO, Egypt — The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is conducting the preliminary-round draws today for the 2026–27 CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup at its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, officially launching a new season of continental club football.
The draw will determine the opening-round matchups for clubs from across Africa as they begin their campaigns in CAF’s two premier interclub competitions. The results will also establish each club’s path to the group stage and, ultimately, the continental finals.
Ahead of the draw, CAF confirmed the prize-money structure for the 2026–27 season, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the financial sustainability of African club football.
According to CAF, the winner of the CAF Champions League will receive US$6 million, while the CAF Confederation Cup champion will earn US$4 million.
In addition, CAF announced that clubs eliminated during the preliminary rounds will each receive a US$100,000 solidarity payment. The financial support is intended to help participating clubs offset some of the costs associated with continental competition, including international travel, accommodation, logistics, and match operations.
The solidarity payments are expected to provide important financial assistance, particularly for clubs from smaller football associations that often face significant expenses when competing across Africa’s vast geographical regions.
The preliminary draws also determine travel routes and schedules for participating teams, factors that can significantly impact clubs’ preparations and budgets in the early stages of the competition. Teams will now begin planning for home-and-away ties that will decide which clubs advance toward the lucrative group stages.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has made increasing investment in African club competitions a central objective of his administration, with higher prize money and expanded financial support aimed at improving the competitiveness and commercial appeal of continental football.
The CAF Champions League remains Africa’s premier club competition, bringing together league champions and top-performing clubs from CAF’s member associations, while the CAF Confederation Cup features domestic cup winners and other qualifying clubs from across the continent.
The preliminary-round draws mark the official beginning of the 2026–27 African club football season, with clubs now awaiting confirmation of their first opponents as they begin their pursuit of continental success and qualification for the latter stages of both tournaments.