The CAF Champions League for the 2026-2027 season has officially confirmed its 16 qualified teams for the group stage following the conclusion of the second preliminary round matches. The Arab clubs have demonstrated their dominance by securing nine spots, showcasing their strong presence on the African football scene.
The qualification matches were filled with thrilling encounters and last-minute goals that further solidified the Arab clubs' supremacy across the continent. Among the standout performances was that of Moroccan clubs, particularly from the cities of Fez and Berkane.
Moroccan Clubs Rise to the Occasion
In a dramatic turn of events, Wydad Fes clinched their qualification with a stunning comeback against Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas, winning 2-1 in Abidjan. This victory was sealed by a last-gasp goal from Khalid Baba in the 90+7 minute, overcoming a first-leg draw of 1-1. Following suit, RS Berkane also secured their place by defeating Sierra Leone’s Star Sports with a narrow 1-0 victory.
Furthermore, the Tunisian clubs also made headlines with their commendable performances. The African Club of Tunis managed to earn a precious ticket to the group stage by defeating the Congolese team TP Mazembe 1-0, thanks to a goal from Cameroonian Thaddeus Nking. They capitalized on a first-leg draw of 1-1. Their rival, Esperance Tunis, also advanced after a tense penalty shootout victory (3-1) over Libya's Al-Suwaihli, following a series of home-and-away wins of 1-0 each.
Mauritania’s Nouadhibou turned their fortunes around after losing the first leg 1-2 to Ivorian club San Pedro, coming back to win 2-0 in Nouakchott, with goals from Cartier Dembélé and Cheikh Khattab, thereby qualifying with an aggregate score of 3-2. Sudan’s Al-Hilal also advanced smoothly, reaffirming their superiority with a 2-0 win over Ethiopia’s Sidama Coffee in Cairo, confirming a total aggregate score of 4-0.
In Egypt, Pyramids FC achieved a resounding 4-0 victory over Marreikh Banjul, while Zamalek continued their journey by repeating their victory over Rwanda's APR with a solitary goal from Ahmed Sherif. Algeria’s Mouloudia Algiers made an impressive turnaround after trailing in the first leg of the preliminary round, securing a thrilling 3-0 win against Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers at the 5 July Stadium. This remarkable comeback allowed them to advance with a total score of 3-2.
Other Notable Qualifiers
In addition to the impressive performances of the Arab clubs, the list of qualified teams was completed with the inclusion of:
- Simba SC from Tanzania
- Young Africans from Tanzania
- Colombe Sportif from Cameroon
- Horoya AC from Guinea
- Petro de Luanda from Angola
- Wiliet from Angola, a surprising contender after eliminating Mamelodi Sundowns
- Orlando Pirates from South Africa
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the official draw for the group stage will take place next Wednesday, where the 16 qualified teams will be distributed into four groups, setting the stage for an exhilarating competition as they vie for the continent's most prestigious title.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
