Asante Kotoko to learn CAF Confederation Cup preliminary opponent today

Asante Kotoko

Ghanaian powerhouse Asante Kotoko will find out their opponent for the preliminary round of the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup later today, Saturday, August 9.

The Porcupine Warriors booked their spot in the continental competition after clinching the 2024/25 FA Cup title with a 2-1 victory over lower-tier side Golden Kick FC.

The draw, scheduled to take place at the Azam Media Stadio, will see Kotoko seeded in Pot 1. A total of 58 clubs have entered this year’s tournament, featuring a mix of African football heavyweights and ambitious debutants.

In a bid to promote wider participation and ensure competitive balance, CAF has announced that teams eliminated in the first two rounds will each receive USD 100,000 to support logistical expenses.

The campaign kicks off with the Preliminary Round, scheduled for 19–21 September (first leg) and 26–28 September (second leg). Six clubs — including former champions and recent finalists — have earned byes to the Second Preliminary Round based on their CAF Club Rankings.

Byes to Second Preliminary Round:

  • Wydad AC (Morocco)

  • USM Alger (Algeria)

  • CR Belouizdad (Algeria)

  • Zamalek SC (Egypt)

  • Al Masry SC (Egypt)

  • Stellenbosch FC (South Africa)

The rest of the field has been split into three pots according to CAF Club Rankings and geographical proximity, factoring in regional unions such as UNAF, WAFU, CECAFA, COSAFA, and UNIFFAC.

POTS FOR THE DRAW

Pot 1: Coton Sport (Benin), USFA (Burkina Faso), Aigle Royal (Cameroon), AF Amadou Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire), FC San Pedro (Côte d’Ivoire), Asante Kotoko (Ghana), Hafia FC (Guinea), Black Man Warrior (Liberia), ASC Snim (Mauritania), OCS (Morocco), ASN Nigelec (Niger), Abia Warriors (Nigeria), Kwara United (Nigeria), Génération Foot (Senegal), Bhantal FC (Sierra Leone), AS Gbohloe-su (Togo), Stade Tunisien (Tunisia)

Pot 2: Flambeau du Centre (Burundi), AS Port (Djibouti), Wolitta Dicha SC (Ethiopia), Nairobi United FC (Kenya), Libya 1 (Libya), Libya 2 (Libya), Rayon Sport FC (Rwanda), Dekadaha FC (Somalia), El Merriekh FC Bentiu (South Sudan), Al Ahli Madani (Sudan), Al Zamalek Umr. (Sudan), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), Azam FC (Tanzania), NEC FC (Uganda), KMKM SC (Zanzibar).

Pot 3: Kabuscorp de Palanca (Angola), CD 1º de Agosto (Angola), Djabal FC (Comoros), RD Congo 1 (DR Congo), RD Congo 2 (DR Congo), FC 15 Agosto (Equatorial Guinea), FC 105 (Gabon), AS Fanalamanga (Madagascar), Mighty Wanderers (Malawi), Pamplemousses (Mauritius), Ferroviário de Maputo (Mozambique), Young Africans FC (Namibia), Foresters FC (Seychelles), Zesco United (Zambia)

Ranked clubs entering in Preliminary Round: Djoliba AC de Bamako (Mali), Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana), Étoile Sportive du Sahel (Tunisia), Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa), Royal Leopards (Eswatini), AS Otohô (Congo)

COMPETITION TIMELINE

Preliminary Round: First Leg – 19–21 September 2025; Second Leg – 26–28 September 2025

Second Preliminary Round: First Leg – 17–19 October 2025; Second Leg – 24–26 October 2025

Group Stage: Begins 28 November 2025

Knockout Phase: Starts 3 April 2026.

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