Held to a 0-0 draw by Wiliete de Benguela, Mamelodi Sundowns, the continental holders, play the second leg on Friday in Pretoria. Espérance Sportive de Tunis, meanwhile, went down 1-0 in Libya against Al-Swehly.
CAF has published an official update on the first legs of the Champions League second preliminary round, and several of the continent’s giants are in trouble. According to CAF Online, holders Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a 0-0 draw away to Angola’s Wiliete de Benguela. Four-time winners Espérance Sportive de Tunis, for their part, lost 1-0 in Libya to Al-Swehly.
Not every big name had the same kind of evening. Young Africans claimed an authoritative 4-0 away win over Madagascar’s CFFA, while Orlando Pirates took a precious advantage on the road by beating Namibia’s African Stars 1-0. In Lubumbashi, TP Mazembe and Club Africain cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw, leaving everything to play for.
Sundowns: the return leg in Pretoria
So the holders could not find a way through in Angola. According to Soccer Laduma, the second leg against Wiliete is set for Friday 23 October 2026 in Pretoria, on their own turf.
The schedule places the decisive second legs of this second preliminary round between 23 and 25 October 2026, according to CAF Online. For Sundowns, the task is to turn things around after this away draw and keep their campaign going.
Espérance and the others
Espérance Sportive de Tunis are in a more delicate position. Beaten 1-0 in Libya by Al-Swehly, the Tunisians, four-time winners of the competition, will have to overturn the deficit in the return leg if they are to hope for qualification.
Conversely, Young Africans and Orlando Pirates go into their second legs with a lead. Young Africans recorded a 4-0 win over Madagascar’s CFFA, while the Pirates lead 1-0 against Namibia’s African Stars ahead of their return match. TP Mazembe and Club Africain, locked at 1-1 in Lubumbashi, remain in an uncertain duel.
Sixteen tickets up for grabs
Thirty-two clubs remain in the running to claim one of the 16 places reserved for the group stage, CAF Online recalls. The winners of the 16 ties will go directly into the group-stage draw.
That draw is scheduled for 28 October near Cairo, after the second legs of the second preliminary round.