Nigeria’s representatives in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League have discovered the opponents they must overcome to keep their dreams of continental glory alive following the official draw for the first qualifying round.
Reigning Nigeria Premier Football League champions Rangers International have been paired with Benin Republic champions AS Sobemap, while Rivers United will face Ivorian champions San Pedro in another highly anticipated West African showdown.
Rangers will begin their campaign at home before travelling to Benin Republic for the return leg. The Flying Antelopes earned their place in Africa’s premier club competition after a successful domestic campaign and will be determined to make a strong statement on the continental stage.
AS Sobemap will be making their first appearance in CAF club competition after winning their maiden league title in Benin Republic. Although they lack continental experience, the newcomers are expected to approach the tie with confidence and ambition.
Should Rangers progress to the second qualifying round, they could face an even greater challenge against either Niger Republic’s ASN Nigelec or Algerian giants MC Alger. Victory in that round would secure a place in the prestigious CAF Champions League group stage.
Rivers United, meanwhile, have been handed a difficult fixture against San Pedro, the newly crowned champions of Ivory Coast. The Nigerian side will travel for the first leg before hosting the return match, hoping to use home advantage to book a place in the next round.
San Pedro’s rise in Ivorian football has attracted attention across the region after the club captured its first domestic league title. Their impressive form makes them one of the most dangerous newcomers in this season’s competition.
If Rivers United successfully eliminate the Ivorian champions, they will face either Uganda’s Vipers SC or Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou in the second qualifying round. The winner of that tie will earn a place in the lucrative group stage of Africa’s biggest club competition.
The first-leg matches are scheduled for September 4 to 6, while the return fixtures will be played between September 11 and 13. Clubs across the continent are already intensifying preparations ahead of the new season.
Nigeria will also be represented in the CAF Confederation Cup, with Shooting Stars drawn against Tunisian side CS Sfaxien. President Federation Cup winners El-Kanemi Warriors will battle União Desportiva Internacional de Bissau of Guinea-Bissau in another qualifying fixture.
The return of four Nigerian clubs to CAF’s inter-club competitions highlights the country’s determination to regain its position among Africa’s football powerhouses. Fans will be hoping the representatives can produce strong performances and make deep runs in both tournaments, restoring Nigeria’s reputation on the continental stage.
