Nigeria’s representatives, Rangers, Shooting Stars, and others in the 2026/27 CAF Interclub competitions will discover their preliminary-round opponents on Thursday, August 6.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will conduct the draws in Cairo, Egypt.
Four Nigerian clubs will represent the country in Africa this season, with Rangers International and Rivers United competing in the CAF Champions League, while Shooting Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors will feature in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The CAF Confederation Cup preliminary-round draw is scheduled for 1pm Nigerian time, followed by the Champions League draw at 2pm.
The ceremony will be broadcast live through CAF’s official digital platforms.
Rangers Lead Nigerian Champions League Representatives
Rangers International, the 2025/26 NPFL champions, will return to the CAF Champions League as Nigeria’s leading representative. They will be joined by Rivers United, who finished runners-up in the domestic league.
Both clubs will be hoping for favourable draws as they begin their respective campaigns for a place in the group stage.
3SC, El-Kanemi Face Confederation Cup Challenge
Shooting Stars, who finished third in the NPFL, will represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup alongside Federation Cup champions El-Kanemi Warriors.
For 3SC, the continental campaign represents another opportunity to restore the club to the forefront of African football after several years away from the continent.
El-Kanemi, meanwhile, earned their place through their Federation Cup triumph and will also be looking to make a strong return to continental competition.
When Will the Matches Be Played?
The first preliminary-round first legs are scheduled for September 4–6, with the return legs taking place between September 11 and 13.
The second preliminary-round first legs will be played from October 16–18, while the return fixtures are scheduled for October 23–25.
The group stage is expected to begin in late November.
CAF has also introduced a new financial incentive for participating clubs, with teams eliminated in the preliminary rounds set to receive a $100,000 solidarity payment.
The CAF Champions League winners will receive $6 million, while the Confederation Cup champions will earn $4 million.
The draw will therefore mark the first major step in what promises to be another demanding continental campaign for Nigeria’s four representatives.
