First leg matches for the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League 2025/26 were held this past weekend, 19 to 21 September 2025 across several venues in the African continent. With 62 entrants chasing a place in November’s group stage, the opening ties delivered emphatic away wins, nervy stalemates and a handful of statement performances from the region’s heavyweights.
Kenya's Kenya Police FC, North African giants ES Tunis, US Monastir and FAR Rabat all took control of their ties, while debutants and returning clubs banked precious clean sheets to carry into the return games. Uganda's Vipers FC and Tanzania's Simba also delivered decent results this past weekend, as they all seek a place in the lucrative group stages, where each club rakes in at least USD 750,000 just for participating.
In matches played elsewhere, Esperance won 3-0 in Niamey, Monastir triumphed 4-0 in Freetown and Remo Stars eased to a 4-0 victory at home to leave their opponents with steep climbs in next weekend’s return fixtures. Five ties ended level, with four of them goalless, thus keeping qualification finely poised as the continent’s biggest club competition gathers pace.
Jamus (South Sudan) frustrated Sudanese heavyweights Al-Hilal Omdurman in a disciplined stalemate, while Equatorial Guinea’s Fundación Bata and Mauritanian champions Nouadhibou were likewise inseparable after a tight, tactical affair.
Guinea’s Leopard and Mozambique’s Black Bulls also ended scoreless, both sides prioritising structure over risk with 90 more minutes still to come.
Earlier in Antananarivo, Elgeco Plus and Malawi’s Silver Strikers traded goals in a 1-1 draw. The hosts struck first but were pegged back by the in-form Lilongwe side, who will fancy their chances back at altitude next weekend.
Below are all the full results of the first-leg matches played over the weekend, listed in order, by match date.
First-leg results
19 September
- African Stars (Namibia) 0–1 Vipers (Uganda)
- Wiliete (Angola) 0–3 Young Africans (Tanzania)
- Dadjè (Benin) 0–0 Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya)
- Côte d’Or (Seychelles) 0–2 Stade d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)
20 September
- Al Hilal Benghazi (Libya) 1–0 Horoya (Guinea)
- Gaborone United (Botswana) 0–1 Simba (Tanzania)
- Fassell (Liberia) 0–0 MC Alger (Algeria)
- Rahimo (Burkina Faso) 0–0 Mangasport (Gabon)
- Bibiani Gold Stars (Ghana) 0–2 JS Kabylie (Algeria)
- Aigles du Congo (DR Congo) 0–0 Rivers United (Nigeria)
- Cercle de Joachim (Mauritius) 0–3 Petro Atlético (Angola)
- Lioli (Lesotho) 0–3 Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
- Mogadishu City (Somalia) 1–3 Police FC (Kenya)
- Power Dynamos (Zambia) 1–0 ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Ethiopian Insurance (Ethiopia) 2–0 Mlandege (Zanzibar)
21 September
- Real de Banjul (Gambia) 0–2 FAR Rabat (Morocco)
- Simba Bhora (Zimbabwe) 1–0 Nsingizini Hotspurs (Eswatini)
- ASC Kara (Togo) 1–1 RS Berkane (Morocco)
- East End Lions (Sierra Leone) 0–4 US Monastir (Tunisia)
- Remo Stars (Nigeria) 4–0 US Zilimadjou (Comoros)
- AS FAN (Niger) 0–3 Espérance Tunis (Tunisia)
- Léopard (Congo) 0–0 Black Bulls (Mozambique)
- Fundación Bata (Equatorial Guinea) 0–0 Nouadhibou (Mauritania)
- Tempête MOCAF (Central African Republic) 0–5 Stade Malien (Mali)
- Aigle Noir (Burundi) 0–0 ASAS (Djibouti)
- Colombe (Cameroon) 0–0 Jaraaf (Senegal)
- Jamus (South Sudan) 0–0 Al Hilal Omdurman (Sudan)
- Elgeco Plus (Madagascar) 1–1 Silver Strikers (Malawi)
Second-leg ties are scheduled for 26–28 September 2025.
