Al Zamalek and Pyramids begin the 'African Champions' from the 'Preliminary'

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the draw for the preliminary rounds of the new season’s CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup yesterday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

Egypt will be represented in the new edition of the CAF Champions League by Zamalek, the league champions, and Pyramids, the runners-up. The two clubs will begin their continental campaign in the first preliminary round, after CAF exempted only three clubs from this stage: Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca, Tunisian club Esperance Tunis, and South African team Mamelodi Sundowns.

According to the draw results, Zamalek is set to face Djiboutian side AS Port in the first preliminary round. If they advance, they will play the winner of the match between Congolese club AS Dragons and Rwandan side APR FC in the second preliminary round.

Pyramids will face Kenyan team Gor Mahia, and if they progress, they will meet the winner of the tie between South Sudan’s Al-Merrikh and Somali side Heegan FC.

The draw for the CAF Confederation Cup was also held yesterday. The Egyptian clubs Al Ahly and ZED FC will participate. Al Ahly awaits the winner of the preliminary round tie between Somali club Mogadishu City and Ugandan side Kitega FC, who will face each other in the first preliminary round. Meanwhile, ZED FC will play against Djiboutian club AS Pegasus in the preliminary round.

The first-leg matches of the first preliminary round are scheduled to take place between September 4 and 6, while the second legs will be played between September 11 and 13, to determine the teams advancing to the next stage. The first legs of the second preliminary round will be held on October 16, 17, and 18, with the second legs scheduled for October 23, 24, and 25.

In other developments, the Egyptian Professional Leagues Association announced the fixtures for the opening round of the new 2026-2027 Egyptian Premier League season. The draw produced strong opening matchups, with the opening matches scheduled for September 21, 22, and 23.

Zamalek will kick off their campaign against Al-Ittihad Alexandria, while Al Ahly will face a tough test against Enppi. Pyramids will begin their season against Ghazl El Mahalla.

Meanwhile, the Al Ahly delegation departed for Spain yesterday morning for an overseas training camp as part of the team’s preparation for the 2026-2027 football season. The camp will feature three matches, including the club’s historic encounter with Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy, scheduled for September 19. This serves as a strong technical test before the team returns to Cairo to compete in the new season’s domestic and continental competitions.