The CAF Champions League 2026/27 begins in September with Gor Mahia carrying Kenya’s challenge into a first preliminary-round tie against Pyramids FC of Egypt. K’Ogalo host the first leg at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday, 6 September at 3:00pm EAT before travelling to Cairo for the return leg on 13 September. The winner advances to face either El Merriekh Bentiu of South Sudan or Heegan SC of Somalia in October.
Gor Mahia return to the competition after winning a record-extending 22nd Kenyan league title in 2025/26. For the exact first-round schedule and venue information, see SportPesa Kenya’s Gor Mahia vs Pyramids FC fixture update.
CAF Champions League 2026/27 key dates
| Stage | Dates |
| First Preliminary Round – first legs | 4-6 September 2026 |
| First Preliminary Round – second legs | 11-13 September 2026 |
| Second Preliminary Round – first legs | 16-18 October 2026 |
| Second Preliminary Round – second legs | 23-25 October 2026 |
| Group Stage Matchday 1 | 27-29 November 2026 |
| Group Stage Matchday 2 | 4-6 December 2026 |
| Group Stage Matchday 3 | 18-20 December 2026 |
| Group Stage Matchday 4 | 8-10 January 2027 |
| Group Stage Matchday 5 | 15-17 January 2027 |
| Group Stage Matchday 6 | 22-24 January 2027 |
The preliminary rounds reduce the field to 16 clubs for the group stage. The top two teams from each of the four groups will then progress to the quarter-finals.
Gor Mahia vs Pyramids FC: Kenya’s opening CAF Champions League tie
| Leg | Fixture | Date | Venue / location | Kick-off |
| First leg | Gor Mahia vs Pyramids FC | Sunday, 6 September 2026 | Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi | 3:00pm EAT |
| Second leg | Pyramids FC vs Gor Mahia | Sunday, 13 September 2026 | Cairo, Egypt | To follow official match communication |
The draw gives Gor Mahia the first leg at home before the return in Egypt. Pyramids entered the draw among CAF’s Level 2 ranked clubs, while Gor Mahia were in the non-ranked group, which is why the Kenyan champions host the opening leg.
SportPesa Kenya has already covered the draw in detail in Gor Mahia’s CAF Champions League first-round draw against Pyramids.
READ ALSO: Gor Mahia learn CAF Champions League dates against Pyramids FC
What happens if Gor Mahia eliminate Pyramids?
Progress against Pyramids would move Gor Mahia into the Second Preliminary Round. Their next opponent would be the winner of El Merriekh Bentiu vs Heegan SC.
| Gor Mahia route | Opponent / possible opponent | Window |
| First Preliminary Round | Pyramids FC | 6 and 13 September |
| Second Preliminary Round | El Merriekh Bentiu or Heegan SC | 16-18 and 23-25 October |
| Group Stage | Qualification if Gor Mahia win both preliminary ties | Begins 27-29 November |
CAF confirms that the 16 winners of the Second Preliminary Round will qualify for the group stage. There is therefore no direct route from the first preliminary tie to the group stage: Gor Mahia must win two two-legged rounds.
Gor Mahia squad and preparation for Pyramids
Charles Akonnor’s side enter the continental campaign after reclaiming the Kenyan championship and securing their 22nd league title. Their preparation has included the CECAFA Kagame Cup, the Green Legacy Cup and the FKF Super Cup.
Gor Mahia reached the Kagame Cup final before losing 2-1 after extra time to Rayon Sports, then began the new domestic campaign with a 3-1 Super Cup defeat to Tusker at Nyayo Stadium on 23 August.
The club has registered a 29-player CAF squad, including a number of new arrivals. See the full SportPesa Kenya Gor Mahia CAF Champions League squad update for the registered roster and current player availability.
Their place in the competition came from winning the 2025/26 domestic title. SportPesa Kenya’s Gor Mahia championship report covers the 22nd league crown and qualification for Africa’s leading club competition.
READ ALSO: Gor Mahia’s CAF Champions League dream faces early test as Pyramids FC await
Pyramids FC bring recent African title experience
Pyramids are one of the strongest first-round opponents in the draw. The Egyptian club won the 2024/25 CAF Champions League and enter the 2026/27 competition as one of CAF’s higher-ranked Level 2 teams.
They opened their latest domestic run with a 3-0 league win over Ghazl El Mahalla and arrive with recent experience of the latter stages of African competition. For Gor Mahia, the first leg in Nairobi is therefore an important opportunity to establish a workable position before the return in Cairo.
READ ALSO: CAF Champions League 2026/27 group stage: A Kenyan perspective
Other CAF Champions League preliminary ties to watch
| First Preliminary Round | What follows if the winner advances |
| La Cure Waves vs Orlando Pirates | Winner faces AS Mangasport or African Stars |
| Mighty Wanderers vs Simba SC | Winner faces 15 de Agosto or Fomboni FC |
| Gaborone United vs Young Africans | Winner faces CFFA or Lijabatho |
| Medeama SC vs TP Mazembe | Winner faces Club Africain or Djoliba AC |
| Wiliete vs Foresters FC | Winner faces defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns |
Mamelodi Sundowns, Esperance de Tunis and RS Berkane received byes into the Second Preliminary Round as the three highest-ranked clubs in CAF’s draw procedure. Sundowns enter the season as defending champions.
How the CAF Champions League 2026/27 group stage works
The group stage will contain 16 clubs divided into four groups of four. Each club plays six matches, facing every group opponent home and away. The top two teams in each group advance to the quarter-finals.
The group-stage participants will only be known after the Second Preliminary Round is completed in late October. That means group fixtures, standings and Matchday 2 opponents cannot be confirmed before qualification and the group-stage draw.
READ ALSO: Gor Mahia crowned SportPesa League champions but suffer final-day defeat
When is CAF Champions League Matchday 2?
CAF Champions League 2026/27 Matchday 2 is scheduled for 4-6 December 2026. Matchday 1 will be played from 27-29 November. The fixtures for those rounds will depend on which 16 clubs qualify through the Second Preliminary Round and how the group-stage draw places them.
CAF Champions League prize money and preliminary-round support
CAF has kept the Champions League winner’s prize at USD 6 million for 2026/27. Clubs eliminated in the preliminary rounds are also due a USD 100,000 subvention to help with travel and other logistical costs.
Follow Gor Mahia and the CAF Champions League on SP Score
For live scores, lineups, match events, H2H information and in-game statistics during the CAF Champions League, use SP Score. The app also provides live alerts for goals, kick-off, lineups, cards and full-time results.
CAF Champions League 2026/27 FAQs
Who are Gor Mahia playing in the CAF Champions League?
Gor Mahia face Pyramids FC of Egypt in the First Preliminary Round.
When is Gor Mahia vs Pyramids FC?
The first leg is scheduled for Sunday, 6 September 2026 at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, with kick-off at 3:00pm EAT. The return leg is on 13 September in Cairo.
Who will Gor Mahia play if they beat Pyramids?
The winner of Gor Mahia vs Pyramids will face either El Merriekh Bentiu of South Sudan or Heegan SC of Somalia in the Second Preliminary Round.
How many teams reach the CAF Champions League group stage?
Sixteen clubs reach the group stage: the 16 winners from the Second Preliminary Round.
When is CAF Champions League Matchday 2?
Matchday 2 is scheduled for 4-6 December 2026.
READ ALSO: Gor Mahia & Tusker learn dates for their 26/27 CAF Champions League & Confederation Cup campaigns
Conclusion
The CAF Champions League 2026/27 begins with Gor Mahia facing Pyramids FC in September, starting with the first leg at Nyayo Stadium before the return in Cairo. If the Kenyan champions progress, El Merriekh Bentiu or Heegan SC will stand between them and the group stage. With the preliminary rounds running through October and the group stage starting in late November, Gor Mahia’s immediate focus is the two-round qualification route rather than the December Matchday 2 fixtures.
