Angola’s top football clubs will be forced to begin their continental journeys from the ground up this season, following a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to relegate them to the preliminary rounds of its major competitions.
The move reflects Angola’s declining performance on the African football stage.
CAF confirmed that four of the country’s most prominent clubs—Petro de Luanda, 1º de Agosto, Wiliete de Benguela, and Kabuscorp do Palanca—must compete in the opening stages of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.
Unlike past seasons, where Angolan clubs occasionally earned direct entry to later rounds, all representatives will now face a grueling qualification process.
The decision is based on CAF’s performance coefficient, which ranks clubs according to their success in recent continental campaigns.
Angola’s standing has fallen sharply, leaving its teams outside the group of elite African clubs who enjoy automatic qualification.
In contrast, clubs like Egypt’s Al Ahly, Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane, and Tanzania’s Simba SC continue to dominate the top rankings and benefit from bypassing the preliminary phase.
This development has sounded alarm bells within Angola’s football community.
For Petro de Luanda and 1º de Agosto—historically two of Angola’s most successful sides—the relegation is a stark reminder of the urgent need to improve competitiveness.
Meanwhile, for Wiliete and Kabuscorp, the early rounds present both a challenge and an opportunity to prove themselves on the continental stage.
As Angolan clubs prepare for a longer and more demanding route to the group stages, officials and fans alike are calling for a renewed focus on performance, investment in local talent, and stronger domestic league structures.
Without significant improvement, Angola risks further marginalization from African football’s elite stage.
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