FDH Bank Premiership defending champions Mighty Wanderers will know their 2026 Caf Champions League preliminary round opponents when the draw is conducted in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) announced draw procedures Monday. Wanderers, alongside other teams from across the continent, will know their opponents on the day.
First preliminary round first leg matches will be played between September 4 and 6 before the return-leg matches are played between September 11 and 13.
Wanderers Director of Football David Kanyenda said they were eagerly anticipating the draw.
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“There are no easy matches at this level. With thorough preparations and commitment, we can spring a few surprises. We believe we have enough depth to compete in Africa,” Kanyenda said.
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For participating in the competition, the Nomads are guaranteed $100,000 (about K175 million) as appearance fee.
The Nomads will be looking to go past the first preliminary round after exiting the Caf Confederation Cup at the same stage last year following a 7-6 defeat to Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy.
The two teams were tied 1-1 on aggregate. Wanderers last took part in the Caf Champions League in 2017.
The Nomads will be Malawi’s only representative in the Caf Champions League this season after both FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers decided against participating in the Caf Confederation Cup.
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Meanwhile, the draw for the 2026 Caf Women’s Champions League draw will be conducted in Gaborone, Botswana, today.
National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Women’s Premiership champions Silver Strikers Ladies will take part in the competition, which is scheduled for August 20 to 29 in Botswana.
Eight teams—including defending champions Gaborone United, Zesco Ndola Ladies, Silver Ladies and Mamelodi Sundowns—will battle for a place in the Caf Women’s Champions League finals.
According to Cosafa, the eight teams will be split into two groups of four each.
Silver Ladies will likely be drawn with Gaborone or Sundowns as the two teams are top seeds for Group A and B.
Silver Ladies Coach Andrew Chikhosi said they were ready to face any team.
“We expect to face any team. We will prepare well for the competition because we will go there to compete [and not just to participate,” Chikhosi said.
Silver will make their maiden appearance at the continental showpiece qualifiers.
Kukoma Ntopwa was the first Malawian women’s club to take part in the Caf Women’s Champions League/Cosafa Qualifiers in 2023 before Ascent Soccer Academy represented the country in 2024, when the tournament was held on home soil at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre.
Ntopwa also took part in the competition in South Africa last year.
