The 2025/25 CAF season is set to be the biggest yet, with a record 120 teams entering the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
This record entry includes South Africa’s four representatives: Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch FC, Orlando Pirates, and Kaizer Chiefs.
Read: Kaizer Chiefs breaks silence on Nasreddine Nabi departure
Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch Get a Bye
Both Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch FC have been given a bye into the second round of their respective competitions.
● Mamelodi Sundowns will begin their CAF Champions League campaign in the second round. They’ll face either Nigeria’s Remo Stars or US Zilimanjou from the Comoros Islands. Sundowns will be looking to go one step further this season after falling to Egypt’s Pyramids FC in last season’s final.
● Stellenbosch FC, who made a remarkable run to the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals last season, will face the winner of the match between Foresters FC from Seychelles and Atlético 15 from Equatorial Guinea. Their impressive debut in the tournament saw them score 18 goals in 14 matches, with defender Thabo Moloisane starting in every single game.
Pirates and Chiefs Kick Off in the First Round
Unlike Sundowns and Stellenbosch, Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will have to navigate the first round to secure their spot in the next stage.
Orlando Pirates: CAF Champions League
Orlando Pirates, who made it to the Champions League semi-finals last season, will face Lioli FC from Lesotho. Last season, they were the only team to remain unbeaten before their semi-final exit, where they were defeated by eventual champions Pyramids FC.
● First Leg: Pirates will play away on Saturday, 20 September 2025. That being said, due to the stadiums in Lesotho not meeting CAF standards, the match is set to take place at the Toyota Stadium in Free State, South Africa.
● Second Leg: The return leg will be at Orlando Stadium on 27 September 2025.
Pirates enter this competition on a high note, having just secured their fourth consecutive MTN8 title with a 3-0 win against Stellenbosch. The victory was also a successful debut for new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who took over from former coach Jose Riveiro.
Kaizer Chiefs: CAF Confederation Cup
After winning the Nedbank Cup last season, Kaizer Chiefs will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup. Their first-round assignment is a challenging trip to Angola to face Kabuscorp.
Chiefs will be hoping to replicate their successful 2020/21 CAF Champions League run, where they made it all the way to the final before losing 3-0 to Al Ahly, who were led by South African coach Pitso Mosimane.
Despite a FIFA transfer ban at the time, Chiefs impressed by finishing second in their group, and then defeating Simba SC and Wydad AC on their way to the final. If they overcome Kabuscorp, they will face either Djabal or a club from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round.