2018 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds
The 2018 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds were played from 10 February to 18 March 2018. A total of 59 teams competed in the qualifying rounds to decide the 16 places in the group stage of the 2018 CAF Champions League.
Draw
The draw for the preliminary round and first round was held on 13 December 2017 at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
The entry round of the 59 teams entered into the draw was determined by their performances in the CAF competitions for the previous five seasons.
| Entry round | First round | Preliminary round |
| Teams |
|  ZESCO United  Espérance de Tunis  Al-Merrikh Al-Hilal  ES Sétif  AS Vita Club  Saint George MC Alger Zanaco  AC Léopards  Stade Malien  ASEC Mimosas  Horoya  Mbabane Swallows  KCCA  CF Mounana AS Real Bamako  Young Africans  Misr Lel-Makkasa Bidvest Wits Difaâ El Jadidi Williamsville AC AS Otôho Plateau United MFM Eding Sport Al-Tahaddy Aduana Stars 1º de Agosto Buffles du Borgou Township Rollers Rail Club du Kadiogo LLB Académic FC Olympic Real de Bangui Ngaya Club Leones Vegetarianos Armed Forces Sport Bissau e Benfica Gor Mahia Bantu LISCR CNaPS Sport Mighty Wanderers ASAC Concorde Pamplemousses UD Songo AS FAN Rayon Sports Génération Foot Saint Louis Suns United Al-Salam Wau AS Togo-Port JKU FC Platinum |
Format
In the qualifying rounds, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still tied, extra time would not be played, and the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner.
Schedule
The schedule of each round was as follows.| Round | First leg | Second leg |
| Preliminary round | 9–11 February 2018 | 20–21 February 2018 |
| First round | 6–7 March 2018 | 16–18 March 2018 |
Bracket
The bracket of the draw was announced by the CAF on 13 December 2017.The 16 winners of the first round advanced to the group stage, while the 16 losers of the first round entered the Confederation Cup play-off round.