Star Sport Academy has started its pre-season camp in Kenema, Sierra Leone, as it prepares for the Interclub continental competition. On Thursday, they will learn about their first opponent.
The journey to win the continental club football title starts on Thursday, August 6, 2026, when the draws for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will take place at CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
Making their debut, Star Sport Academy will represent Sierra Leone after Bo Rangers withdrew from the competition. The draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League will happen at 15:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT) on Thursday.
The winners of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League will receive a $6 million prize. The champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will earn $4 million.
Clubs that do not advance from the preliminary rounds will each get $100,000. This payment is part of CAF’s effort to support teams involved in its interclub competitions. Recent preliminary rounds have featured exciting matches, showing both well-known teams and ambitious new clubs eager to succeed in African football.
Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa are the defending champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, while USM Alger from Algeria won the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup last season.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League preliminary rounds
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026
Time: 15:00 Cairo time (12:00 GMT)
Venue: CAF headquarters, Cairo, Egypt
