Nations FC will face Mali’s FC Diarra in the preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup after the draw was confirmed.
The Ghanaian club earned its place in Africa’s second-tier club competition by winning the MTN FA Cup for the first time, but now face a demanding two-legged tie against one of Mali’s emerging sides.
Nations FC made history in June when they beat Dreams FC 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the final at the University of Ghana Stadium. The result secured the Abrankese-based club’s first major trophy and gave them continental qualification for the first time.
Their reward is an opening-round meeting with FC Diarra, with the two clubs set to contest a tie that will determine who advances to the next stage.
Should Nations FC progress, they will meet the winners of the preliminary-round tie between Niger’s AS Zam and Togo’s ASKO de Kara in the second preliminary round. Winning that final qualifying stage would earn the Ghanaian side a place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.
The draw presents Nations FC with an immediate chance to establish themselves in continental football, despite having no previous experience in CAF club competitions. Their recent FA Cup campaign demonstrated the resilience they will need, as they overcame several top-flight opponents on the way to the trophy.
That achievement came in the same season that Nations FC were relegated from the Ghana Premier League, making their cup triumph and subsequent continental qualification particularly significant for the club.
The CAF Confederation Cup has increased in prominence in recent years, with the Confederation of African Football raising the competition’s prize money and attracting some of the continent’s leading clubs.
USM Alger are the defending champions after beating Zamalek of Egypt in last season’s final.
Nations FC will now turn their attention to preparing for what could become the biggest matches in the club’s history. Eliminating FC Diarra would take them a step closer to the group phase and give them the opportunity to represent Ghanaian club football on the continental stage.
The 2026/27 competition begins with the first preliminary round. First-leg matches are scheduled to take place from 4-6 September, 2026, with the return fixtures to be played from 11-13 September, 2026.
The second preliminary round will follow from 16-18 October, 2026, while the second legs are scheduled for 23-25 October, 2026.
