CAF announces schedule for 2025-26 Champions League and Confederation Cup

Photo: Confederation of African Football (CAF)

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup will begin in September 2025 following the African Nations Championship (CHAN) which will be held in August.

The African football governing body has set the dates for its club competitions for the 2025-2026 season as follows:

• First Preliminary Round: September 19-21, 2025

• Return Leg: September 26-28, 2025

• Second Preliminary Round: October 17-19, 2025

• Return Leg: October 24-26, 2025

Group Stage

• Matchday 1: November 21-23, 2025

• Matchday 2: November 28-30, 2025

• Matchday 3: January 23-25, 2026

• Matchday 4: January 30 – February 1, 2026

• Matchday 5: February 6-8, 2026

• Matchday 6: February 13-15, 2026

Quarterfinals

• First Leg: March 13-15, 2026

• Return Leg: March 20-22, 2026

Semifinals

• First Leg: April 10-12, 2026

• Return Leg: April 17-19, 2026

Final

During the period from May 8 to 24, 2026.

Player Registration Periods

• The first registration period for the preliminary round runs from August 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025.

• The second registration period for the second preliminary round runs from September 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025.

• The registration period for the group stage runs from October 1 to 31, 2025.

• The registration period for the remainder of the group stage and knockout matches runs from January 1 to January 31, 2026.