The road to African club football glory has been officially mapped out following the 2026/27 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup preliminary round draws conducted today in Cairo, Egypt.
For Uganda’s continental representatives, Vipers SC and Kitara FC, the draw has served up highly competitive opening fixtures alongside potential blockbuster second-round meetings.
CAF Champions League: Vipers SC Face Mauritanian Test Before Potential West African Heavyweight
Ugandan Premier League champions Vipers SC will kick off their quest to reach the lucrative CAF Champions League group stages with a first-preliminary-round clash against Mauritanian champions FC Nouadhibou.
The Venoms will enjoy home advantage in the first leg at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, scheduled for September 4–6, 2026, before heading to Mauritania for the decisive return leg between September 11–13, 2026.
Should Vipers overcome the Mauritanian challenge, a monumental task awaits them in the second preliminary round.
The kitende based side will square off against the winner of the high-profile West African tie between Nigeria’s Rivers United and Ivory Coast’s FC San Pedro.
The Venoms will be determined to make amends for last season’s early exit to Zambia’s Power Dynamos and replicate their historic 2022/23 group stage run.
CAF Confederation Cup: Kitara FC Book Horn of Africa Trip with Ultimate Prize Lurking
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Uganda’s Kitara FC will begin their journey in the first preliminary round against Somali outfit Mogadishu CC.
Like the Champions League fixtures, the first legs will take place from September 4–6, with the return legs scheduled for September 11–13, 2026.
While Kitara will back themselves to navigate past the Somali representatives, the true headline of the draw lies in the second preliminary round.
The winner of the Kitara FC vs. Mogadishu CC tie will directly advance to face Egyptian powerhouse and 12-time CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly FC, who are featuring in a star-studded Confederation Cup lineup this season.
For Kitara, the motivation is sky-high: a historic chance to share the pitch with one of the most decorated clubs in world football, with the second-round legs locked in for October 16–18 and October 23–25, 2026.
Key Dates for the Ugandan Clubs:
September 4–6, 2026: First Preliminary Round (1st Leg)
Vipers SC vs. FC Nouadhibou (St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende)
Kitara FC vs. Mogadishu CC
September 11–13, 2026: First Preliminary Round (2nd Leg)
October 16–18, 2026: Second Preliminary Round (1st Leg)
October 23–25, 2026: Second Preliminary Round (2nd Leg)
Both clubs now have less than a month to fine-tune their squads and tactical setups as the countdown to the biggest stage on the continent officially begins.
