The first legs of the second preliminary round of the 2026-2027 CAF Champions League begin this Friday, October 16, with Zamalek and Pyramids FC both targeting victories away from home. The Egyptian sides hope to take a decisive step towards the group stage.
Pyramids FC travel to South Sudan to face El Merriekh Bentiu at 13:30 GMT. Zamalek follow at 16:00 GMT with a trip to Rwanda to meet APR FC. The Cairo club reached this stage after crushing AS Port of Djibouti 6-1 on aggregate, but APR FC could pose a challenge after showing resilience in the previous round.
Both Egyptian clubs will look to build an advantage before the return legs, scheduled for October 23–25. Only the winners of this preliminary round will secure places in the group stage, making Friday’s encounters important tests of their continental ambitions.
Friday, October 16 (GMT)
- 13:30: El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan) vs Pyramids FC (Egypt)
- 16:00: APR FC (Rwanda) vs Zamalek (Egypt)