CAF Champions League
 |
|
| Founded | 1964 |
|---|---|
| Region | Africa (CAF) |
| Number of teams | 8 (Group stage) 52 (Total) |
| Current champions |  TP Mazembe |
| Most successful club |  Al Ahly (6) |
| Website | cafonline.com |
 2010 CAF Champions League |
|
The CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the equivalent to the UEFA Champions League. Due to sponsorship reasons, the official name is Orange CAF Champions League, with Orange Champions League also in use.
The winner of the tournament earns a berth in the FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament contested between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations.
Contents |
History
Early Years
Initially, the competition saw the league champions of each national league existing under the jurisdiction of the CAF coming together over a 12 month period of home and away knock-out fixtures until the quarter-final, semi-final and final stage was reached for the winning team to be declared the African champion of champions.
Starting life as the 'African Champions Cup' in 1964, the first team to lift the trophy was Cameroonian side Oryx Douala, who beat Stade Malien of Mali 2-1 in a one-off final.
There was no tournament held the following year, but the action resumed again in 1966, when the two-legged ‘home and away’ final was introduced, which saw another Malian team AS Real Bamako take on Stade Abidjan of the Cote d'Ivoire. Bamako won the home leg 3-1 but it all came apart for them in the away game in Abidjan as the Ivorians went on to win 4-1 to take the title 5-4 on aggregate.
Drama followed in 1967 when Ghana’s Asante Kotoko met the DRC’s TP Mazembe, with both matches ending in draws (1-1 and 2-2 respectively). CAF suggested a play-off, but the Ghanaians refused to compete and the title was handed to Mazembe. Just to prove they were deserving winners, TP Mazembe went on to win the title again the following year.
However, the Ghanaians got their revenge in 1970, when Kotoko and Mazembe once again met in the final. Once again, the first game ended 1-1 but against expectation the Ghanaians ran out 2-1 winners in their away game to lift the title that had eluded them three years earlier.
The 1970s saw a remarkable rise in the fortunes of Cameroonian club football, which created the platform of success enjoyed by Cameroonian football at international level today. Between 1971 and 1980 Cameroonian teams won the cup four times, with Canon Yaounde taking three titles (1971, 1978 and 1980) and Union Douala lifting the cup in 1979. In between the Cameroonian victories the honor was shared with another team enjoying a golden age, Guinean side Hafia Conakry, who won it three times during this period (1972, 1975 and 1977).
Egyptian dominance
Although only two North African teams had ever won the title before 1981 - Egypt's al-Ismaily in 1969, and Algeria's MC Algiers in 1976 - since then, North Africa's teams have dominated the championship, between them winning the title on no fewer than 22 out of the last 28 tournaments.
Particularly dominant have been the two Egyptian giants and Cairo-based arch-rivals, al-Ahly and el Zamalek. The Cairo ‘Red Devils’ (al-Ahly) have won it a record six occasions- in 1982, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2008; while the Cairo ‘Whites Knights’ (el Zamalek) have taken the honours on no fewer than five occasions - 1984, 1986, 1993, 1996 and 2002.
Another North African team that has made a big impression in this tournament is Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, who has emerged victorious three times – in 1989, 1997 and 1999.
Recent Developments
Apart from the introduction of the away goals rule (in which a goal scored by the team playing ‘away’ counts as double in the event of a tie in the aggregate score line over the two legs), very little changed in this competition until 1997. In this year, CAF took the bold step to follow the lead established a few years earlier in UEFA by creating a league stage in the tournament and changing the name to the CAF Champions League. CAF also introduced prize money for participants for the first time.
With a purse of US$1 million on offer to the winners and US$750 000.00 to the losing finalist, the new Champions League had become far and away the richest club competition in Africa. In the new format, the league champions of the respective CAF member countries went through a series of preliminary rounds until a last 16 stage. The 8 winners of this round were then drawn into two mini-leagues of 4 teams each, with each team playing each other on a home and away basis. At the end of the league stage, the top two teams in each group meet in the semifinals, with the winners going through to contest the finals.
From the 2009 season, the winners purse was increased to US$1.5 million and the runners up to US$1 million.
Challenges facing the competition
Scheduling, structure, and venues are some of the problems in which CAF faces.
Many feel the competition should schedule their fixtures to similar timelines of the UEFA Champions League. African Champions League usually begins around January and finishes around November. Most (but not all) of the African national domestic leagues begin around July, August, or September and finish around April, May, or June. Because not all national domestic leagues begin around the same time, fixtures to this competition are organized poorly. And most national league administrators want to align the African Champions League to their national domestic leagues. The only way to fix this problem is to co-ordinate all national domestic leagues in Africa with African Champions League.
Many national associations want the competition expanded to 16 teams in group stage. The stronger national leagues feel the competition would be more profitable and successful by awarding extra spots to their leagues.
Structure and qualification
In 1997 the CAF Champions League replaced the previous pan-African competition, the African Cup of Champions Clubs; this had run from 1964-1996 [1].
The competition is open to the winners of all CAF-affiliated national leagues, as well as the holder of the competition from the previous season. From the 2004 competition the runner-up of the league of the 12 highest-ranked countries also entered the tournament creating a 64-team field. This was in response to the merging of the CAF Cup, the secondary pan-African club competition where the league runner-ups would previous play, with the CAF Cup Winners' Cup to create the CAF Confederation Cup. The 12 countries would be ranked on the performance of their clubs in the previous 5 years.
The Champions' League operates as a knockout competition, with a final group stage, with each tie (including the final) played over two legs - home and away. There are 3 knockout stages: the preliminary stage, the first round (32 teams) and the second round (16 teams). The 8 teams knocked out of the second round are entered into the Confederation Cup to play against the final 8 teams in that competition. After the second round, the last 8 teams are split into two groups of 4. The winner and runner-up in these groups are sent to play in a semi-final for the chance of contesting the final.
Prize money
In the 2008 season $3.5million in prize money was shared between the top eight clubs and their national associations as follows:
| Final position |
Money awarded to club |
Money awarded to national association |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,000,000 | $50,000 |
| 2 | $750,000 | $35,000 |
| Semi-finalists | $427,500 | $22,500 |
| 3rd in group stage | $261,250 | $13,750 |
| 4th in group stage | $190,000 | $10,000 |
From the 2009 season there was an increase in prize money to be shared between the top eight clubs as follows: [1]
| Final position |
Money awarded to club |
|---|---|
| 1 | $1,500,000 |
| 2 | $1,000,000 |
| Semi-finalists | $700,000 |
| 3rd in group stage | $500,000 |
| 4th in group stage | $400,000 |
Results
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Losing Semifinalists | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 Details |
.svg.png){kind=small} Oryx Douala |
2 - 1 |  Stade Malien |
Real Republicans (Ghana) |
Cotton Factory Club.svg.png){kind=small} (Ethiopia) |
| 1966 Details |
 Stade Abidjan |
1 - 3 4 - 1 |
AS Real Bamako |
.svg.png){kind=small} Al-Hilal Omdurman |
Oryx Douala |
| 1967 Details |
 TP Englebert |
1 - 1 2 - 2 |
 Asante Kotoko |
Djoliba AC |
Saint-George SA |
| 1968 Details |
TP Englebert |
5 - 0 1 - 4 |
Etoile Filante de Lomé (Togo) |
FAR Rabat (Morocco) |
Abaluhya United (Kenya) |
| 1969 Details |
Ismaily SC (United Arab Republic) |
2 - 2 3 - 1 |
TP Englebert |
Asante Kotoko |
 Conacry II |
| 1970 Details |
Asante Kotoko |
2 - 2 3 - 1 |
TP Englebert |
Ismaily SC (United Arab Republic) |
AS Kaloum Star |
| 1971 Details |
 Canon Yaoundé |
0 - 3 2 - 0 1 - 0 |
Asante Kotoko |
ASEC Mimosas |
Great Olympics |
| 1972 Details |
Hafia Conakry |
4 - 2 3 - 2 |
 Simba FC |
 TP Mazembe |
Hearts of Oak |
| 1973 Details |
AS Vita Club |
2 - 4 3 - 0 |
Asante Kotoko |
Léopards Douala |
Kenya Breweries |
| 1974 Details |
 CARA Brazzaville |
4 - 2 2 - 1 |
Ghazl Al-Mehalla (Egypt) |
 ASC Jeanne d'Arc |
 Simba SC |
| 1975 Details |
Hafia Conakry |
1 - 0 2 - 1 |
 Enugu Rangers |
Ghazl Al-Mehalla (Egypt) |
Lomé 1 |
| 1976 Details |
 MC Algiers |
0 - 3 3 - 0 (3-0 pen) |
Hafia Conakry |
ASEC Mimosas |
Enugu Rangers |
| 1977 Details |
Hafia Conakry |
3 - 2 1 - 0 |
Hearts of Oak |
Lomé 1 |
 Mufulira Wanderers |
| 1978 Details |
Canon Yaoundé |
0 - 0 2 - 0 |
Hafia Conakry |
Enugu Rangers |
AS Vita Club |
| 1979 Details |
Union Douala |
1 - 0 0 - 1 (5-3 pen) |
Hearts of Oak |
DC Motema Pembe |
US Gorée |
| 1980 Details |
Canon Yaoundé |
2 - 2 3 - 0 |
AS Bilima |
Bendel Insurance |
Union Douala |
| 1981 Details |
JE Tizi-Ouzou |
4 - 0 1 - 0 |
AS Vita Club |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
AS Kaloum Star |
| 1982 Details |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
3 - 0 1 - 1 |
Asante Kotoko |
Enugu Rangers |
FC Saint Eloi Lupopo |
| 1983 Details |
Asante Kotoko |
0 - 0 1 - 0 |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
Nkana FC |
ASC Diaraf |
| 1984 Details |
Al-Zamalek (Egypt) |
2 - 0 1 - 0 |
Shooting Stars FC |
JS Kabylie |
AC Semassi |
| 1985 Details |
FAR Rabat (Morocco) |
5 - 2 1 - 1 |
AS Bilima |
Al-Zamalek (Egypt) |
US Gorée |
| 1986 Details |
Al-Zamalek (Egypt) |
2 - 0 0 - 2 (4-2 pen) |
Africa Sports |
Canon Yaoundé |
Nkana FC |
| 1987 Details |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
0 - 0 2 - 0 |
 Al-Hilal Omdurman |
Asante Kotoko |
Canon Yaoundé |
| 1988 Details |
ES Setif |
0 - 1 4 - 0 |
Iwuanyanwu Nationale |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
Raja Casablanca (Morocco) |
| 1989 Details |
Raja Casablanca (Morocco) |
1 - 0 0 - 1 (4-2 pen) |
MC Oran |
Tonnerre Yaoundé |
Nkana FC |
| 1990 Details |
JS Kabylie |
1 - 0 0 - 1 (5-3 pen) |
Nkana FC |
Asante Kotoko |
Iwuanyanwu Nationale |
| 1991 Details |
 Club Africain |
6 - 2 1 - 1 |
Villa SC |
Nkana FC |
Iwuanyanwu Nationale |
| 1992 Details |
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) |
2 - 0 0 - 0 |
Al-Hilal Omdurman |
Ismaily SC (Egypt) |
ASEC Mimosas |
| 1993 Details |
Al-Zamalek (Egypt) |
0 - 0 0 - 0 (7-6 pen) |
Asante Kotoko |
Stationery Stores |
ASEC Mimosas |
| 1994 Details |
Espérance |
0 - 0 3 - 1 |
Al-Zamalek |
MC Oran |
Nkana FC |
| 1995 Details |
 Orlando Pirates |
2 - 2 1 - 0 |
ASEC Mimosas |
Ismaily SC (Egypt) |
Express FC |
| 1996 Details |
Al-Zamalek (Egypt) |
1st leg: 1-2 2nd leg: 2-1 Penalties: 5-4 |
Shooting Stars FC (Nigeria) |
CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) |
JS Kabylie (Algeria) |
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Group Phase Runners-up | |
| 1997 Details |
Raja Casablanca (Morocco) |
1st leg: 0-1 2nd leg: 1-0 Penalties: 5-4 |
Obuasi Goldfields (Ghana) |
USM Alger (Algeria) |
Al-Zamalek (Egypt) |
| 1998 Details |
ASEC Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) |
1st leg: 4-2 2nd leg: 0-0 |
Dynamos FC (Zimbabwe) |
Manning Rangers (RSA) |
Hearts of Oak (Ghana) |
| 1999 Details |
Raja Casablanca (Morocco) |
1st leg: 0-0 2nd leg: 0-0 Penalties: 4-3 |
Espérance (Tunisia) |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
ASEC Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) |
| 2000 Details |
Hearts of Oak (Ghana) |
1st leg: 2-1 2nd leg: 3-1 |
Espérance (Tunisia) |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) |
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Losing Semifinalists | |
| 2001 Details |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
1st leg: 1-1 2nd leg: 3-0 |
Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) |
Espérance (Tunisia) |
Atlético Petróleos Luanda (Angola) |
| 2002 Details |
Al-Zamalek (Egypt) |
1st leg: 0-0 2nd leg: 1-0 |
Raja Casablanca (Morocco) |
TP Mazembe (DRC) |
ASEC Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) |
| 2003 Details |
Enyimba (Nigeria) |
1st leg: 2-0 2nd leg: 0-1 |
Ismaily SC (Egypt) |
USM Alger (Algeria) |
Espérance (Tunisia) |
| 2004 Details |
Enyimba (Nigeria) |
1st leg: 1-2 2nd leg: 2-1 Penalties: 5-3 |
Étoile Sahel (Tunisia) |
Espérance (Tunisia) |
ASC Jeanne d'Arc (Senegal) |
| 2005 Details |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
1st leg: 0-0 2nd leg: 3-0 |
Étoile Sahel (Tunisia) |
Al-Zamalek (Egypt) |
Raja Casablanca (Morocco) |
| 2006 Details |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
1st leg: 1-1 2nd leg: 1-0 |
Club Sportif Sfaxien (Tunisia) |
ASEC Mimosas (Côte d'Ivoire) |
Orlando Pirates (South Africa) |
| 2007 Details |
Étoile Sahel (Tunisia) |
1st leg: 0-0 2nd leg: 3-1 |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sudan) |
Al Ittihad (Libya) |
| 2008 Details |
Al-Ahly (Egypt) |
1st leg:2-0 2nd leg:2-2 |
Cotonsport Garoua (Cameroon) |
Enyimba (Nigeria) |
Dynamos (Zimbabwe) |
| 2009 Details |
TP Mazembe Democratic Republic of the Congo |
1st leg: 1–2 2nd leg: 1–0 |
Heartland Nigeria |
Kano Pillars Nigeria |
Al-Hilal Omdurman Sudan |
| 2010 Details |
|||||
Performance by team
| Club | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Ahly |
6 | 2 |
| Al-Zamalek |
5 | 1 |
| Hafia Conakry |
3 | 2 |
| TP Mazembe * |
3 | 2 |
| Raja Casablanca |
3 | 1 |
| Canon Yaoundé |
3 | 0 |
| Asante Kotoko |
2 | 5 |
| Enyimba |
2 | 0 |
| JS Kabylie ** |
2 | 0 |
| Espérance |
1 | 2 |
| Étoile Sahel |
1 | 2 |
| Hearts of Oak |
1 | 2 |
| AS Vita Club |
1 | 1 |
| ASEC Abidjan |
1 | 1 |
| Ismaily SC |
1 | 1 |
 CARA Brazzaville |
1 | 0 |
| Club Africain |
1 | 0 |
| ES Setif |
1 | 0 |
| FAR Rabat |
1 | 0 |
| MC Algiers |
1 | 0 |
| Orlando Pirates |
1 | 0 |
| Stade Abidjan |
1 | 0 |
| Union Douala |
1 | 0 |
| Wydad Casablanca |
1 | 0 |
| Oryx Douala |
1 | 0 |
| Al-Hilal Omdurman |
0 | 2 |
| AS Bilima |
0 | 2 |
| Shooting Stars |
0 | 2 |
| Heartland *** |
0 | 2 |
| Africa Sports |
0 | 1 |
| AS Real Bamako |
0 | 1 |
| Club Sportif Sfaxien |
0 | 1 |
| Cotonsport Garoua |
0 | 1 |
| Dynamos FC |
0 | 1 |
| Enugu Rangers |
0 | 1 |
| Etoile Filante de Lomé |
0 | 1 |
| Ghazl Al-Mehalla |
0 | 1 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns |
0 | 1 |
| MC Oran |
0 | 1 |
| Nkana FC |
0 | 1 |
| Obuasi Goldfields |
0 | 1 |
| Simba FC |
0 | 1 |
| Stade Malien |
0 | 1 |
| Villa SC |
0 | 1 |
(*): includes TP Englebert
(**): includes JE Tizi-Ouzou
(***): includes Iwuanyanwu Nationale
Performance by country
| Country | Winners | Finals |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt |
12 | 17 |
| Cameroon |
5 | 6 |
| Morocco |
5 | 6 |
| DR Congo |
4 | 9 |
| Algeria |
4 | 5 |
| Ghana |
3 | 11 |
| Tunisia |
3 | 8 |
| Guinea |
3 | 5 |
| Nigeria |
2 | 7 |
| Ivory Coast |
2 | 4 |
| South Africa |
1 | 2 |
| Congo |
1 | 1 |
| Mali |
0 | 2 |
| Sudan |
0 | 2 |
| Uganda |
0 | 2 |
| Togo |
0 | 1 |
| Zambia |
0 | 1 |
| Zimbabwe |
0 | 1 |
See also
- International club competition records
References
- ↑ "CAF Executive Committee decisions". cafonline.com. 2009-09-16. http://www.cafonline.com/competition/can-u-17_2009/news/3403-caf-executive-committee-decisions.html. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
External links
- Website of the Confederation of African Football
- CAF Champions League results
- Official MTN CAF Champions League website
|
||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
