Rangers and Rivers United drawn against AS Sobemap and San Pedro

Rangers International will face Benin Republic's AS Sobemap in the first preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League. The Nigerian champions are scheduled to host the first leg of the tie in Ikenne before traveling to Benin for the second leg.

Rivers United face a different challenge as they have been paired with San Pedro of Côte d’Ivoire for their opening preliminary round fixture. If both Nigerian clubs progress past these initial opponents, they will enter the second preliminary round of the competition.

Should Rangers advance, they will meet the winner of the tie between Niger Republic’s ASN Nigelec and Algeria’s MC Alger. Rivers United will face either Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou or Uganda’s Vipers SC in their next stage if they eliminate San Pedro.

The first-leg matches for the opening preliminary round are set to take place between September 4 and September 6, 2026. The return fixtures are scheduled for the period of September 11–13, 2026. Success in the second preliminary round is required to qualify for the group stage.

The second preliminary round matches will be played from October 16–18 for the first legs, with the return legs occurring between October 23 and 25, 2026. Enyimba remains the only Nigerian club to have won the CAF Champions League, with two titles to their name.