Confederation Cup Draw: Azam, Singida Black Stars, Durban City and Red Arrows Know Their Groups
African club football is back in the headlines, and for fans in East and Southern Africa the news from Cairo is worth a close look. The group stage draw for the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup was held on 28 October 2026, according to the CAF website. Three countries that our readers care about have clubs in the mix, and the first round of group games is said to fall on the weekend of 27 to 29 November.
That date comes from a single CAF press release, so it is worth checking again nearer the time. Individual fixtures and kick-off times were not part of the release. Here is what the draw produced for Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia, and what it might mean for supporters who follow these clubs week after week.
Tanzania has two clubs in the groups
Azam from Tanzania were drawn in Group B alongside Royal Armed Forces of Morocco, Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya and Durban City of South Africa. That is a group with a mix of experience and unfamiliarity, and it will test whether Tanzanian clubs can turn their growing continental confidence into points away from home. Azam will know that North African travel and heat are rarely easy, and that the opening home games will matter a lot.
Singida Black Stars, also from Tanzania, landed in Group C with Maniema Union of DR Congo and Red Arrows of Zambia. The fourth place in that group is still to be confirmed, with CR Belouizdad, AS Douanes and Hafia in a qualifier for the slot, so the final shape of the group is not settled. For Tanzanian fans, having two clubs in the competition is a real sign of how much the domestic game has grown, and it should make for lively weekends in Dar es Salaam and across the country.
South Africa and Zambia carry hopes too
Durban City will be the South African name to watch, and Group B is not a gentle introduction. They share a group with Azam, so there is an East Africa against Southern Africa storyline built right into the fixtures. Fans in Durban will be hoping the team can use home support to get early points before the long trips begin.
Red Arrows represent Zambia in Group C, and their path looks interesting because they meet another Tanzanian side in Singida Black Stars. Zambian supporters know how hard it is to win away in this competition, so a strong start at home will be the key. The top two in each group are said to reach the quarter-finals in February 2027, with the final round of group games at the end of January, which gives every club a long, tough road to walk.
What is still unclear
The draw also gave Group A to Al Ahly, Raja Casablanca, ASKO Kara and Primeiro Agosto, and Group D to USM Alger, CS Sfaxien, Black Bulls and Real Bamako. These are the groups where the bigger North African names sit, so many people expect them to be hard for everyone else to catch. That is only an opinion, though, and Confederation Cup football has a long record of surprising the favourites.
Everything above about group placements and club countries rests on the CAF release alone, so it is worth double checking on the official CAF site before you rely on it. Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana do not appear to have clubs in this group stage based on that release, so if you were hoping to see your local side there, please confirm with CAF. The third place in Group C is also still open, so that group can change.
Betting on club football the sensible way
Continental club games can be exciting to follow, but they are also unpredictable, with travel, rotation and refereeing all adding to the mix. If you choose to bet, use only operators that hold a licence in your own country, and check the live operator cards on Betradar Africa to see what is available now. We do not state bonus amounts here, because offers change and you should always read the terms yourself.
Betting is only for people aged 18 and above, and it should never come before rent, school fees or food. Decide your limit before the game and stop when you reach it. If gambling is causing stress, talk to a trusted person or reach out to a support service in your country.