The highly anticipated CAF draw for the preliminary rounds of the 2025-2026 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will take place tomorrow in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
In preparation for the draw, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled its rankings of the top 70 teams across Africa based on their accumulated points. These rankings play a critical role in determining the matchups in the upcoming tournament.
Shockingly, Rwanda’s football representatives, APR FC (CAF Champions League) and Rayon Sports (CAF Confederation Cup), are absent from the rankings. The reason for this omission is straightforward: neither team has managed to earn ranking points through past performances in CAF competitions.
The 2025-2026 rankings are topped by Egypt’s Al Ahly FC, boasting an impressive 78 points. Following closely is South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns with 62 points. Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis holds third place with 57 points, Morocco’s RS Berkane is ranked fourth with 52 points, and Tanzania’s Simba SC claims fifth with 48 points.
Points in these rankings are allocated based on recent team performances in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, ensuring only the most consistent and competitive teams earn a spot among the elite.
These exclusions highlight the challenges faced by Rwandan clubs in securing a foothold in continental competitions, underscoring the dominance of financially powerful and strategically consistent teams within Africa. As the drama unfolds tomorrow, all eyes will be on Tanzania.