The countdown to another exciting season of African club football has officially begun after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the full match calendar for the 2026/27 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. The announcement provides a clear roadmap for Uganda’s representatives, Vipers SC and Kitara FC, as they prepare to compete against the continent’s elite in pursuit of continental success.
Vipers SC, the Uganda Premier League champions, will represent the country in the prestigious TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, while Uganda Cup holders Kitara FC will make their return to continental football in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. Both clubs will begin their campaigns in the first preliminary round, with the opening legs scheduled for September 4-6, 2026, before the return fixtures take place between September 11-13. Teams that progress will advance to the second preliminary round, with first-leg matches set for October 16-18 and return legs from October 23-25.
For Ugandan football, the release of the calendar marks the official start of preparations as both clubs seek to improve the country’s standing in African club competitions, should either side successfully navigate the preliminary rounds, they will secure a place in the lucrative group stage, which begins at the end of November. The six-match group phase will run from November 27-29, 2026, through January 22-24, 2027, before the competition moves into the knockout rounds.
CAF has scheduled the quarter-finals for late February and early March 2027, followed by the semi-finals in April, while the finals of both competitions will be played during the period between May 9 and May 31, 2027. Beyond continental prestige, the competitions continue to offer significant financial rewards. CAF has maintained the prize money introduced in recent seasons, with the winners of the CAF Champions League set to receive USD 6 million, while the CAF Confederation Cup champions will earn USD 4 million. The financial incentives underline the growing commercial value of African club football and provide additional motivation for participating teams.
For Vipers SC, the mission is to build on their domestic dominance by making a deeper run in Africa’s premier club competition. Having consistently established themselves among Uganda’s top-performing clubs, the Venoms will be targeting progression beyond the preliminary stages and ultimately a place in the group phase.
Kitara FC, meanwhile, will be eager to write a new chapter in the club’s history following their Uganda Cup triumph, which secured their ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup. The Hoima-based outfit will be hoping to translate their domestic success onto the continental stage against some of Africa’s most competitive clubs.
The coming weeks will now shift focus to the CAF preliminary round draw, where both Ugandan representatives will discover the opponents standing between them and a place in the next stage with the calendar now confirmed, preparations move into high gear. Squad recruitment, pre-season training and tactical planning will become the immediate priorities as both clubs seek to arrive ready for the demands of continental football.
For Ugandan football supporters, September cannot come soon enough. It will mark the beginning of another journey filled with ambition, expectation and national pride as Vipers SC and Kitara FC carry the country’s hopes into Africa’s biggest club competitions.
CAF 2026/27 Key Dates
- First Preliminary Round (First Leg): September 4-6, 2026
- First Preliminary Round (Second Leg): September 11-13, 2026
- Second Preliminary Round (First Leg): October 16-18, 2026
- Second Preliminary Round (Second Leg): October 23-25, 2026
- Group Stage: November 27, 2026 – January 24, 2027
- Quarter-finals: February 26-March 7, 2027
- Semi-finals: April 9-18, 2027
- Finals: May 9-31, 2027
The road to African glory is officially mapped out. Now, all eyes turn to Vipers SC and Kitara FC as they prepare to fly Uganda’s flag on the continental stage.
