Nigerian representatives will begin their respective 2025/2026 CAF InterClub competition journey, as the preliminary round gets underway across Africa this weekend, www.aclsports.com reports.
The quartet of Remo Stars, Rivers United, Abia Warriors, and Kwara United are Nigeria’s representatives for this season’s action.
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Remo Stars have a seemingly easy task when they face Comoros champions US Zilimadjou at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta on Sunday, before the return leg at the same venue next Friday.
On the other hand, Rivers United, who have been Nigeria’s most consistent side on the continent in recent years, are travelling to Kinshasa for the first leg of their tie against FC Les Aigles du Congo on Saturday. They will host the return leg at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo next weekend.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, debutants Abia Warriors will face Djoliba AC in Uyo on Sunday. On the other hand, Kwara United, who are Federation Cup champions, will also travel to Ghana to face Asante Kotoko in the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
With the second-leg matches scheduled for 26–28 September 2025, victorious clubs will progress to the Second Preliminary Round, set for 17–19 October (first leg) and 24–26 October 2025 (second leg). The Group Stage of both the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will begin on 21 November 2025, with the knockout phase set to commence on 13 March 2026.
Meanwhile, CAF has introduced a new financial initiative: teams eliminated in the first two preliminary rounds will each receive USD 100,000 to assist in covering logistical expenses.
CAF Champions League
Saturday:
FC Les Aigles du Congo (DR Congo) vs Rivers Utd – 3:30pm
Sunday;
Remo Stars v US Zilimadjou (Comoros) – 4pm
CAF Confederation Cup
Sunday:
Asante Kotoko (Ghana) v Kwara United – 4pm
Abia Warriors v Djoliba AC (Mali) – 4pm
*Fixtures are all in Nigerian time.
