Wanderers, Silver learn CAF Tournament key dates and squad registration deadlines

Malawian football giants Mighty Wanderers FC and Silver Strikers now know the key dates for their participation in this year’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournaments. CAF has announced the schedules for both the Champions League and Confederation Cup, including crucial deadlines for squad registration.

Silver Strikers are set to compete in the CAF Champions League, having won the TNM Super League in 2024. Mighty Wanderers will feature in the Confederation Cup, by virtue of their FAM Cup, Castel Cup triumphs.

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The 2025-26 CAF club season will kick off in September. The preliminary round first leg matches are scheduled between September 19 and 21, with return legs from September 26 to 28.

Should both teams progress, the first leg of the second preliminary round will be played between October 17-19, and the return leg between October 24-26, 2025.

The coveted group stages are slated to begin on November 21, 2025, and will run until February 15, 2026. Quarterfinals are set for March, with first legs between the 13th and 15th, and second legs between the 20th and 23rd, 2026.

Semifinal first legs will be played between April 10 and 12, 2025, with second legs from April 17 to 19. The tournament finals are scheduled to take place between May 8 and 24, 2026.

When will Wanderers and Silver register their squads for the tournaments?

Both Mighty Wanderers and Silver Strikers have been given approximately one month to prepare their squads for the initial registration. The primary registration period for the tournaments opens on August 1, 2025, and closes on August 31, 2025.

Further registration periods have also been outlined by CAF:

• “The second registration period, for teams advancing to the second preliminary round, runs from September 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025.
• The registration period for the group stage is from October 1 to October 31, 2025. For the remainder of the group stage and knockout matches, the registration period will be from January 1 to January 31, 2026,” reads the statement by CAF.

Mighty Wanderers last appeared in a CAF tournament in 2018, where they suffered a 6-1 defeat to Congolese giants Vita Sporting Club. Silver last participated in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2019, exiting in the first preliminary round after a 4-3 loss on post-match penalties to Ambere SC of Gabon.

Both clubs are currently awaiting certification after submitting their applications to the Football Association of Malawi. They will need to undergo a rigorous Club Licensing process.

Notably, Silver Strikers may need to address their technical panel, as current Head Coach Peter Mgangira does not hold the minimum required CAF A coaching license.