The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the draw procedure for the Preliminary Round and Second Preliminary Round of the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, scheduled for Saturday, 9 August, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
A total of 62 clubs have registered for the Round of 64, with two – Al Ahly of Egypt and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns – receiving byes to the Second Preliminary Round.
The remaining teams have been placed in pots based on their CAF Club Ranking, with the draw also considering factors such as geographical location.
Zimbabwe will be represented by Simba Bhora, who are making their debut in the competition after winning the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League. The Shamva-based side will begin their campaign in the Preliminary Round and have been placed in Pot 3 alongside other Southern and Central African teams.
Meanwhile, CAF has announced that teams eliminated in either of the first two rounds will each receive USD 100,000 to cover logistical costs, as part of efforts to encourage more clubs to participate.
Pots for the Draw
Pot 1: Aigle Noir FC (BUR), ASAS/Djibouti Telecom (DJI), Insurance Company (ETH), Kenya Police FC (KEN), APR FC (RWA), Mogadishu City Club (SOM), Jamus FC Juba (SSD), Mlandege FC (ZAN)
Pot 2: Dadjè FC (BEN), Rahimo FC (BFA), Colombe Sportive (CMR), AS Tempête (CAF/RCA), Fundación Bata (EQG), AS Mangasport (GAB), Bibiani Gold Stars FC (GHA), FC Fassell (LBR), Libya 1 (LBY), Libya 2 (LBY), Forces Armées (NIG), East End Lions (SLE), Real de Banjul (GAM), ASCK (TGO)
Pot 3: Wiliete SC (ANG), Gaborone United SC (BOT), US Zilimadjou (COM), AC Léopards (CGO), RD Congo 1 (RDC), RD Congo 2 (RDC), Nsingizini Hotspurs (ESW), Lioli FC (LES), Elgeco Plus (MAD), Silver Strikers FC (MLW), Cercle de Joachim (MAU), African Stars (NAM), Remo Stars (NGR), Côte d’Or (SEY), Power Dynamos (ZAM), Simba Bhora FC (ZIM)
Pot 4: Horoya AC (GUI), FC Nouadhibou (MTN), ASC Jaraaf (SEN), US Monastir (TUN)
Pot 5: ASFAR (MAR), MC Alger (ALG), JS Kabylie (ALG), Stade Malien (MLI)
Pot 6: Merreikh (SUD), Stade d’Abidjan (CIV)
Pot 7: ASEC Mimosas (CIV), Orlando Pirates (RSA), Atlético Petróleos de Luanda (ANG), Rivers United (NGR)
Competition Timeline
Preliminary Round:
First Leg – 19–21 September 2025
Second Leg – 26–28 September 2025
Second Preliminary Round:
First Leg – 17–19 October 2025
Second Leg – 24–26 October 2025
Group Stage: Begins 21 November 2025
Knockout Phase: Starts 13 March 2026
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