Nigeria’s representatives in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, Rangers International and Rivers United, have discovered their opponents for the opening preliminary round following Thursday’s draw conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Trybal News reports.
Nigeria Premier Football League champions Rangers International have been drawn against Benin Republic’s AS Sobemap in a West African derby. The Flying Antelopes will host the first leg before travelling for the return fixture as they bid to book a place in the second qualifying round.
If Rangers progress, they will face either Niger Republic’s ASN Nigelec or Algerian heavyweights MC Alger for a place in the lucrative group stage.
Rivers United will begin their continental campaign against Ivorian club FC San Pédro in another two-legged encounter. The Port Harcourt side, coached by Finidi George, will be looking to secure an aggregate victory to keep alive their hopes of reaching the group phase.
A win over San Pédro would see Rivers United face either Uganda’s Vipers SC or Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou in the second preliminary round.
The first preliminary round will be played over two legs, with the opening fixtures scheduled for September 4-6 and the return matches set for September 11-13. The decisive second preliminary round will take place from October 16-18, with the reverse fixtures billed for October 23-25.
Both Nigerian clubs are targeting qualification for the 16-team group stage, where Africa’s elite clubs will compete for continental honours, significant prize money and a place on the pathway to the expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
