Nigeria’s representatives in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, Rivers United and Rangers International, have discovered their respective opponents following Thursday’s preliminary round draw conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.
Rivers United, who enter the competition as a seeded side due to their strong CAF coefficient, have been drawn against Ivorian club FC San Pedro in the first preliminary round.
The Port Harcourt-based club are ranked 24th in Africa with 15 CAF coefficient points, while FC San Pedro occupy 60th position, giving the Nigerian side a statistical advantage ahead of the two-legged tie.
If Rivers United progress, they will face either Uganda’s Vipers SC or Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou in the second preliminary round, with qualification for the group stage at stake.
For Rangers International, the route to the group stage is considerably tougher. The reigning Nigeria Premier Football League champions, who were unseeded for the draw, will face Benin Republic champions SOBEMAP in the opening round.
A victory would set up a challenging second-round encounter against either Niger Republic’s ASN Nigelec or Algerian giants MC Alger.
The preliminary round draw featured 61 clubs, with CAF granting automatic passage to the second preliminary round to the three highest-ranked teams, Mamelodi Sundowns, Espérance and RS Berkane.
The remaining 58 clubs will contest the first preliminary round, with the 29 winners joining the three exempted sides in the next phase.
The first preliminary-round matches are scheduled for September 4–6, with return legs taking place from September 11–13. The second preliminary round will be played between October 16–18, with the return fixtures scheduled for October 23–25.
The clubs that successfully navigate the second preliminary round will earn places in the 16-team CAF Champions League group stage and continue their pursuit of continental glory and the competition’s significant financial rewards.