Riding on the wave of record-breaking television audiences from the previous season, the Confédération of African Football (CAF) is set to make history by holding the CAF Champions League Preliminary Draw in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the first time ever.

CAF confirmed that the preliminary draw will take place on Saturday, August 9, 2025, marking a significant milestone for East African football and underlining the region’s growing importance in the continental game.

The draw will be hosted live from the studios of Azam Media, CAF’s strategic broadcast partner in the region, continuing a now-popular tradition of hosting draws in high-profile television studios. Past draws have been successfully conducted from the studios of global broadcasters such as SuperSport and beIN Sport, with Canal+ also playing a key role in expanding CAF’s broadcast footprint.

CAF officials pointed to the increasing cumulative viewership figures across the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, particularly from East Africa, as a driving force behind the decision.

“This event in Dar es Salaam signals the start of what is shaping up to be another exciting season of Africa’s top club football competitions,” a CAF spokesperson said.

The preliminary round of the CAF Champions League is scheduled to kick off on September 19, 2025, with the second preliminary round following a month later on October 17, 2025.

The decision to bring the draw to Tanzania is being seen as a recognition of the country’s rising profile in African football, both in terms of club performance and broadcast reach, and a strategic step by CAF to deepen engagement with East