Monrovia – Liberia’s hopes of ending a long and painful drought in African club football face early pressure as FC Fassell and Blackman Warriors have been given tough opponents in the preliminary rounds of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.
By: Christopher C Walker 0777898224/0886723075 [email protected]
In the CAF Champions League, FC Fassell, the reigning Liberian champions, have been paired against MC Algiers, one of Algeria’s most decorated clubs. The two-legged tie is set to begin with the first leg in Monrovia, before returning to Algeria for the second.
This encounter marks Fassell’s return to continental football after 2014 disappointing debut in the CAF Cup.
The club, once relegated and battling administrative challenges, has made a remarkable comeback to the top of Liberian football. But their reward is a daunting task facing a side that has dominated the North African football scene and is no stranger to deep runs in CAF tournaments.
Meanwhile, Blackman Warriors, the 2025 Orange Cup winners, have been drawn against Cotton Sport of Benin in the CAF Confederation Cup. The Warriors, making their debut on the continental stage, will travel to play the first leg at home and will go away in the second leg.
Despite their inexperience, the club has expressed confidence the Warriors have been undergoing intense preparations ahead of what could be a defining moment in their history.
A Decade of Disappointment
Liberian clubs enter this year’s CAF competitions with a sobering reality: no Liberian team has reached the group stage of any CAF competition in over a decade. The last time a Liberian side advanced past the early rounds was in 2017 when BYC came close to reaching the group stage but lost to Mozambique side Feraviro De Beria and even then, group stage qualification proved elusive.
In recent years, clubs like LPRC Oilers, LISCR FC, and Watanga FC have all bowed out in the preliminary or first rounds.
National Football Revival on the Line
This year’s CAF campaigns carry added weight for Liberian football, which is undergoing a slow but determined revival. The Liberia Football Association (LFA) has pledged support to both clubs and urged the football community to rally behind them.
While both FC Fassell and Blackman Warriors face stiff competition, fans are hopeful this generation can begin to change Liberia’s reputation in continental club football from early exits to real contenders.
CAF have announced that the preliminary round matches will kick off in mid-September.
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