NPFL Clubs CAF Draw: Rangers, Rivers United Learn Foes

Nigeria’s four representatives in this season’s CAF inter-club competitions now know exactly who stands between them and the group stage. The NPFL clubs CAF draw paired Rangers International and Rivers United in the CAF Champions League, while Shooting Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors will chase a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup. First-leg action kicks off in early September.

Rangers Drawn Against Benin Republic’s AS Sobemap

NPFL champions Rangers International open their CAF Champions League campaign against AS Sobemap of Benin Republic in the first preliminary round. It’s a tie the Flying Antelopes will be expected to win, though continental football has punished overconfident Nigerian sides before.

Should Rangers progress, they’ll face a much sterner test in round two: either Niger Republic’s ASN Nigelec or Algerian giants MC Alger. Meanwhile, Rangers are still chasing their first group-stage campaign since returning to continental competition, having exited early last season.

Rivers United Face Long Trip to Ivory Coast

Rivers United’s route starts away from home against Ivorian side FC San Pedro, with the first leg played in Côte d’Ivoire before the return fixture in Nigeria a week later. That’s a demanding start for a Port Harcourt side that finished bottom of its group in last season’s CAF Champions League.

If Rivers United get past FC San Pedro, they’ll meet either Uganda’s Vipers SC or FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania in the second preliminary round. As a result, the Pepper Boys have a genuine, if difficult, route back into African competition proper.

Shooting Stars Return to Africa After 27 Years

Shooting Stars (3SC) earned continental football by finishing third in the 2025/26 NPFL season, and their reward is arguably the toughest draw of the four: Tunisian powerhouse and four-time CAF Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien. It’s the Ibadan club’s first appearance in continental football in 27 years, so simply competing will count as progress for the Oluyole Warriors.

However, an upset against Sfaxien would set up a second-round tie against either Côte d’Ivoire’s AF Amadou Diallo or Sierra Leone’s East End Lions — a far more winnable path to the group stage.

El-Kanemi Warriors Chase Group Stage via Federation Cup Route

El-Kanemi Warriors qualified for continental football by winning the 2026 President Federation Cup, and they open their CAF Confederation Cup campaign against Benin Republic’s UDIB. A win there would be significant: it would set up a mouth-watering second-round clash against Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca, one of the most decorated clubs in African football.

When Are the Matches Played?

The first preliminary-round fixtures are scheduled for early-to-mid September 2026, with the decisive second preliminary round following in October. Group stage qualification remains the ultimate prize for all four Nigerian clubs, with the winners of that round joining the continent’s elite for the 2026-27 campaign, according to CAF draw confirmation reported by Premium Times.

For context on how Nigeria’s top flight has shaped up so far this season, our full NPFL 2026/27 clubs guide covers all 20 sides. Rangers and Rivers United have already opened their domestic campaigns — read how they got on in our Rangers vs Katsina United matchday 1 report and Rivers United’s win over Plateau United. Shooting Stars fans can also catch up on their season-opening victory over Inter Lagos.

FAQ: NPFL Clubs in CAF Competitions 2026-27

Which NPFL clubs are in continental competition this season?
Rangers International and Rivers United represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League, while Shooting Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors compete in the CAF Confederation Cup.

When does the CAF Champions League preliminary round start?
The first preliminary-round fixtures are scheduled for early-to-mid September 2026, with two-legged ties deciding who advances to the second preliminary round in October.

Has a Nigerian club ever won the CAF Champions League?
Yes — Enyimba remains Nigeria’s last CAF Champions League winner, lifting the title back-to-back in 2003 and 2004.

Who do Rangers and Rivers United play if they advance?
Rangers would face either ASN Nigelec (Niger) or MC Alger (Algeria); Rivers United would face either Vipers SC (Uganda) or FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania).

We’ll be tracking all four clubs’ progress through September and October as the draws unfold — check back for updates once the first legs are played.