Zambian champions Power Dynamos have been drawn against Sudanese giants Al Merrikh in the preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League.
The draw, conducted on Wednesday, sees the Kitwe-based side travel away for the first leg, scheduled between 4- 6 September, before hosting the return leg a week later.
If Power Dynamos progress, they will face either Algeria’s JS Saoura or Guinea’s Horoya AC in the second preliminary round, with the first leg set for 16–18 October and the return fixture on 23–25 October. The winner of that tie will qualify for the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition.
Power Dynamos will be looking to build on their 2025/26 CAF Champions League campaign, during which they reached the group stage for the first time in the club’s history.
On their way to the group stage, Aba Yellow defeated Côte d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw in the first preliminary round before overcoming Uganda’s Vipers SC 3-2 on aggregate in the second preliminary round.
Power Dynamos last season in Champions League
In the group stage, Power were drawn alongside Morocco’s RS Berkane, Egypt’s Pyramids FC and Nigeria’s Rivers United. They recorded a memorable 2-0 home victory over RS Berkane and a 1-0 home win over Rivers United, but it was not enough to secure a place in the knockout stages.
Before their breakthrough campaign, Power Dynamos had failed to reach the group stage in their previous CAF Champions League appearances. They were eliminated in the qualifying rounds in 1998, 2001 and 2012.
In 1998, they exited in the first round, while in 2001 they were knocked out in the second round by none other than Sudanese side Al Merrikh—the same club they have now been drawn against 25 years later. In 2012, they advanced past the preliminary round before suffering a heavy aggregate defeat to DR Congo’s TP Mazembe in the first round.
Having secured the 2025/26 MTN Super League title, Power Dynamos will now be hoping to make another deep run in the CAF Champions League and continue their growing reputation on the continental stage.
