Nigeria’s representatives face challenging ties against CS Sfaxien and UDIB as they begin their quest for continental success.
Nigeria’s representatives in the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and El-Kanemi Warriors, have discovered their opponents following the preliminary-round draw held at CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
The draw mapped out the qualification route for clubs hoping to reach the lucrative group stage of Africa’s second-tier club competition, with both Nigerian teams handed challenging opening fixtures.
Shooting Stars Return to Continental Football
Ibadan giants Shooting Stars will face CS Sfaxien of Tunisia in one of the standout ties of the first preliminary round.
The Oluyole Warriors, who secured qualification after finishing third in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), are set to host the first leg at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne before travelling to Tunisia for the decisive return fixture.
Victory over the experienced North African side would earn Shooting Stars a second preliminary-round clash against either AF Amadou Diallo of Côte d’Ivoire or East End Lions of Sierra Leone.
The tie marks Shooting Stars’ long-awaited return to continental football after an absence of nearly three decades, adding extra significance to the upcoming campaign.
El-Kanemi Warriors Face Tough Route
President Federation Cup champions El-Kanemi Warriors have been drawn against União Desportiva Internacional (UDIB) of Guinea-Bissau in the opening round.
The Maiduguri-based side will be confident of progressing, but an even sterner challenge could await in the second preliminary round.
If El-Kanemi eliminate UDIB, they are likely to face Moroccan powerhouse Raja Casablanca, one of the tournament’s seeded clubs that received a bye into the second qualifying round.
Road to the Group Stage
The first-leg matches of the opening preliminary round are scheduled to take place between September 4 and 6, while the return fixtures will be played from September 11 to 13.
The second preliminary round will follow in October, with only the winners advancing to the prestigious group stage.
A total of 56 clubs entered this season’s competition, with the top-ranked teams receiving automatic passage into the second preliminary round based on CAF’s club rankings.
Nigerian Clubs Chasing Continental Success
Both Shooting Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors will be aiming to make a strong impression and help restore Nigeria’s reputation in African club football.
Despite producing several successful clubs over the years, no Nigerian team has won the CAF Confederation Cup since the competition was introduced in its current format.
For Shooting Stars, a successful campaign would mark a memorable return to the continental stage, while El-Kanemi Warriors will be hoping to build on their President Federation Cup triumph by making a deep run in Africa.