Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch are heading South Africa’s charge in Africa’s second-tier club competition after booking their CAF Confederation Cup group-stage spots.
After a strong qualifying weekend, South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC have secured places in the 2025-26 edition of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. They join fourteen other clubs in Africa’s second-tier continental competition.
In the 2024-25 competition, the Cup was claimed by RS Berkane, adding a third title to their record. Meanwhile, neither Chiefs nor Stellenbosch reached the later phases of that competition.
AfricaPicks: PSL round 11 – Early odds to look out for
Kaizer Chiefs earned their slot after winning the 2024-25 Nedbank Cup, ending a ten-year trophy drought and thus securing access to the Confederation Cup. They will face Angolan side Kabuscorp SC Palanca in the preliminary round of this year’s event. For Chiefs, the objective is no longer just qualifying but performing in the group phase and restoring continental credibility.
Stellenbosch are likewise poised for meaningful exposure in Africa. While details of their last continental campaign are limited, their inclusion and performance mark progress for the club on the continent. Their group stage presence aligns them with the major South African clubs returning to continental competition.
The 2025-26 edition will feature 16 teams divided into four groups of four. Qualifying rounds took place between 19 September and 26 October 2025. South Africa now counts among the nations with double representation alongside Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Tanzania. The full list of qualified clubs includes names such as Zamalek SC (Egypt), Wydad AC (Morocco), and USM Alger (Algeria).
For South Africa, the presence of two clubs in the group stage is a strong indicator of the nation’s growing continental ambition. For Kaizer Chiefs the challenge lies in converting qualification into group-stage success. For Stellenbosch, this campaign is a chance to elevate the club’s continental status.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
