Nigerian Teams Learn Their Opponents in CAF Competitions

Nigeria's four clubs in the 2026/27 CAF inter-club competitions have found out who they will face. This follows the preliminary-round draws by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Rangers International and Rivers United will start their CAF Champions League journeys in the first preliminary round. Meanwhile, Shooting Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors will play in the opening round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

In the Champions League, Rangers will take on AS Sobemap from Benin Republic in the first preliminary round. If the Flying Antelopes win, they will meet either ASN Nigelec from Niger Republic or Algerian club MC Alger in the second round. Winning that match would send them to the group stage.

Rivers United also has a tough challenge ahead. They will play against FC San Pedro from Ivory Coast in the opening round. The first leg will take place in Côte d’Ivoire, and the return leg will happen a week later in Nigeria.

If Rivers United moves forward, they will face either Uganda's Vipers SC or FC Nouadhibou from Mauritania in the second preliminary round. A win would secure their spot in the group stage.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Shooting Stars have a difficult draw. They will compete against CS Sfaxien, a strong team from Tunisia. This is a big moment for the Ibadan club, as they return to continental football after 27 years, finishing third in the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League.

If Shooting Stars can beat the four-time CAF Confederation Cup winners, they will play either AF Amadou Diallo from Côte d’Ivoire or East End Lions from Sierra Leone in the second preliminary round.

El-Kanemi Warriors qualified by winning the 2026 President Federation Cup. They will start their tournament against UDIB from Benin Republic. If they win, they will face Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca in the next round.

With the draws now set, Nigeria's four teams have different levels of challenges ahead. They aim to bring Nigeria back into the group stages of both CAF inter-club competitions.

The first preliminary-round matches will be played in September, while the second preliminary round is set for October. The goal is to qualify for the group stages.