Dar es Salaam. Ranzania giants Yanga SC and Simba SC have been handed favourable draws in their quest to reach the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League group stage, while Azam FC will begin their CAF Confederation Cup campaign in the second preliminary round.
The draws conducted today, August 6, 2026 at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, placed the three Tanzanian clubs on different paths as they seek continental success next season.
Simba SC will open their Champions League campaign against Malawi’s Mighty Wanderers in the first preliminary round, with the Msimbazi side set to begin the tie away from home before hosting the return leg.
Should Simba advance, they will face either Equatorial Guinea’s 15 Agosto or Comoros’ Fomboni in the second and final preliminary round.
Neither of the potential opponents has previously reached the CAF Champions League group stage, giving Simba an opportunity to push further in the competition.
Yanga SC, who are coached by South African tactician Manqoba Mngqithi, have been drawn against Botswana’s Gaborone United.
The match-up gives the Tanzanian champions a chance to progress, with Gaborone United having already experienced Tanzanian opposition after facing Simba at the same stage last season.
The Botswana side were eliminated after losing 2-1 on aggregate, and Yanga will hope for a similar outcome when they begin their campaign.
If Yanga overcome Gaborone United, they will face either Madagascar’s CFFA or Lesotho’s Lijabatho in the second preliminary round.
The champions will play the first leg away before finishing the tie at home as they target a place in the group stage.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Azam FC will enter the competition at the second preliminary round after receiving a bye due to their CAF ranking.
The Chamazi-based side will face either Egypt’s ZED FC or Djibouti’s Telecom FC for a place in the group stage.
Azam are among eight clubs that have been granted direct entry into the second preliminary round, joining some of Africa’s leading teams, including Egypt’s Al Ahly, Algeria’s USM Alger and CR Belouizdad, Morocco’s Raja Casablanca and AS FAR, DR Congo’s Maniema Union and South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs.
The first legs of the preliminary round matches will be played between September 4 and 6, 2026, with return fixtures scheduled for September 11 to 13.
The second preliminary round will follow in October, with group stage action expected to begin in late November 2026.
The CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup winners will compete for major financial rewards, with champions expected to receive increased prize money from Africa’s governing football body.
