The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has conducted the preliminary-round draws for the 2026/27 inter-club competitions, and Nigeria's four representatives now know the path they must navigate to reach the lucrative group stages. Rangers International and Rivers United will begin their CAF Champions League campaigns from the first preliminary round, while Shooting Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors will compete in the opening round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Champions League: Rangers Face AS Sobemap, Rivers United Draw FC San Pedro
Rangers International, the Flying Antelopes, have been drawn against Benin Republic's AS Sobemap in the first preliminary round of the Champions League. If they progress, they will face either Niger Republic's ASN Nigelec or Algerian giants MC Alger in the second preliminary round. Victory in that tie would secure a coveted spot in the group stage.
Rivers United have also been handed a challenging route after being paired with Ivorian side FC San Pedro. The first leg will be played in Côte d'Ivoire, with the return fixture in Nigeria a week later. Should the Port Harcourt club advance, they will meet either Uganda's Vipers SC or FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania in the second preliminary round, with a place in the group stage at stake.
Confederation Cup: Shooting Stars Face CS Sfaxien, El-Kanemi Draw UDIB
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Shooting Stars have one of the toughest draws, being paired with Tunisian powerhouse CS Sfaxien. The Ibadan club returns to continental football for the first time in 27 years after finishing third in the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League season. Should they eliminate the four-time CAF Confederation Cup winners, they will face either Côte d'Ivoire's AF Amadou Diallo or Sierra Leone's East End Lions in the second preliminary round.
El-Kanemi Warriors, who qualified by winning the 2026 President Federation Cup, begin their campaign against Benin Republic's UDIB. Victory over the Beninese side would set up a second-round clash against Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca.
Impact: Nigeria's Quest for Group Stage Presence
With the draws now confirmed, Nigeria's four representatives face varying degrees of difficulty as they bid to restore the country's presence in the group stages of both CAF inter-club competitions. The first preliminary-round fixtures will be played in September, while the decisive second preliminary round is scheduled for October, with qualification for the group stages the ultimate prize.
