Malawi’s representatives in 2025-26 Caf Inter-club competitions Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers face the possibilities of meeting African power houses in the first preliminary round.
This follows reports that Confederation of African Football (Caf) will only exempt two teams, namely Egyptian giants Al Ahly and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, from the first preliminary round of the Caf Champions League.
This means Silver, who will participate in the Caf Champions League, could be drawn with giants such as Esperance Tunis, RS Berkane, Simba Sporting Club and Petro de Luanda in the first preliminary round.
Details indicate that 60 clubs, minus Sundowns and Ahly, will participate in the first round.
- Advertisement -
The 30 winners from the first preliminary round will join the two teams in the second preliminary round.
- Advertisement -
Previously, Caf was exempting many giants from the first preliminary round.
The Nomads, who are participating in the Caf Confederations Cup, face a similar situation.
With 58 clubs set to participate in the Caf Confederations Cup, six clubs, including South Africa’s Stellenbosch, will be exempted from first preliminary round matches.
Meanwhile, Caf has announced that the draw for the Inter-club competitions will take place this Saturday, and in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the first time ever.
- Advertisement -
Initially, the draw was slated for August 14, 2025.
“The preliminary draw will be conducted on Saturday, August 9, at 13 h00 local time (10h00 GMT).
“The Saturday event signals the kick-off of what promises to be another thrilling season of Africa’s premier club competitions,” a Caf statement reads.
Silver Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Patrick Chimimba said he was looking forward to the draw.
“We are ready to represent Malawi. We believe we will compete,” he said.
The Central Bankers last participated in the continental competition in 2019. Then, they were eliminated in the first round of the Caf Confederations Cup following a 4-3 loss to Ambere SC of Gabon.
Wanderers CEO Panganeni Ndovi said they were ready for the competition.
“We are ready to face Africa’s top teams. This is the challenge we want,” he said.
In 2018, Wanderers lost, on aggregate, 6-2 to DRC side AS Vita in the Caf Champions League.
This year’s preliminary round matches are scheduled to kick off on September 19 followed by second preliminary round matches from October 17,2025.
