The 2026-27 CAF Champions League gets under way on Friday, 4 September, with the first legs of the preliminary round offering clubs across Africa their opening opportunity to move closer to the group stage.
Zamalek SC are among the most prominent sides in action, beginning their campaign away from home against AS du Port / TACO. The Egyptian club will be aiming to establish an advantage before the second leg takes place the following week.
Another notable contest sees JS Saoura face Horoya AC, with the Algerian side hosting the Guinean club in one of the day’s most eagerly anticipated fixtures. The meeting brings together two teams looking to make an early statement in the competition and progress through the opening stage.
The preliminary-round programme launches a new continental campaign for a collection of established names and less-fancied challengers. Their immediate objective is to navigate the opening tie and keep alive their hopes of reaching the group stage.
Friday’s matches will set the tone for a busy weekend of African club football. With the return matches scheduled for the following week, the result of every first-leg fixture will be closely scrutinised. Every goal scored away from home could prove significant when the ties are decided.
Zamalek SC’s trip to face AS du Port / TACO is one of the day’s key fixtures, while JS Saoura and Horoya AC provide a further high-profile encounter. The schedule also includes a meeting between AL Swehly SC and KVZ FC.
All times are in GMT.
Friday’s CAF Champions League preliminary-round fixtures
- 17:00 AL Swehly SC v KVZ FC - 17:00 AS du Port / TACO v Zamalek SC - 18:00 JS Saoura v Horoya AC
The first round preliminary ties represent the starting point of the clubs’ efforts to secure a place in the group stage. Zamalek SC will begin that task on the road, while JS Saoura have home advantage for their meeting with Horoya AC.
The three fixtures form part of a wider opening schedule across the continent, as clubs with different levels of experience and expectation enter the latest CAF Champions League campaign. By the end of the day, each will have taken its first step towards the next round, with the return fixtures still to come the following week.