CAF Champions League

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CAF Champions League
Organising bodyCAF
Founded1964; 60 years ago (1964)
(rebranded in 1997)
RegionAfrica
Number of teams16 (group stage)
68 (total)
(from 56 associations)
Qualifier for
Related competitionsCAF Confederation Cup
Current championsEgypt Al Ahly
(11th title)
Most successful club(s)Egypt Al Ahly
(11 titles)
Television broadcastersList of broadcasters
Websitecafonline.com/champions-league
2023–24 CAF Champions League

The CAF Champions League, known for sponsorship purposes as the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League[1] and formerly the African Cup of Champions Clubs, is an annual football club competition organized by the Confederation of African Football and contested by top-division African clubs, deciding the competition winners through a round robin group stage to qualify for a double-legged knockout stage, and then a home and away final. It is the most prestigious club competition in African football.

The winner of the tournament earns a berth for the FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament contested between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations, and also faces the winner of the CAF Confederation Cup in the following season's CAF Super Cup. Clubs that finish as runners-up their national leagues, having not qualified for the Champions League, are eligible for the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup.

Egyptian clubs have the highest number of victories (17 titles), followed by Morocco with 7. Cameroon, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco have the largest number of winning teams, with three clubs from each having won the title. The competition has been won by 26 clubs, 12 of which have won it more than once. Al Ahly is the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the tournament a record 11 times.

Al Ahly are the current African champions, having beaten Wydad AC 3–2 on aggregate in the 2023 final.

History[edit]

1964–1997: Beginnings to competition rise in prominence[edit]

Established in 1964 as the African Cup of Champions Clubs, the first team to lift the trophy was Cameroonian team Oryx Douala who beat Stade Malien of Mali 2–1 in a one-off final.[2]

Salif Keïta, runner-up in 1965 and 1966 with Stade Malien and Real Bamako.
Ali Abo Gresha, top scorer of 1969 with the winners Ismaily

There was no tournament held the following year, but the action resumed again two years later in 1966, when the two-legged 'home and away' final was introduced, which saw another Malian team AS Real Bamako take on Stade d'Abidjan of Ivory Coast. 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.[3]

In 1967 when Asante Kotoko of Ghana met TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (or the DRC for short), both matches ended in draws (1–1 and 2–2 respectively). CAF arranged a play-off, but Kotoko failed to appear[4] and the title was handed to Mazembe, who went on to win the title again the following year.[5]

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.[6]

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.

Al_Ahly_1982_(2)
Al Ahly SC team, winners of 1982 African Cup of Champions Clubs
Zamalek_SC_won_the_first_African_title
Zamalek SC team, winners of 1984 African Cup of Champions Clubs

Between 1971 and 1980 Cameroonian teams won the cup four times, with Canon Yaoundé taking three titles (1971,[7] 1978[8] and 1980[9]) and US 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,[10] 1975[11] and 1977[12]). It is

1997–present: Change of name and rise in reputation[edit]

Apart from the introduction of the away goals rule, very little changed in this competition until 1997, when CAF under Issa Hayatou took the bold step to follow the lead established a few years earlier by UEFA by creating a league/group stage in the tournament and changing the name to the CAF Champions League (in line with UEFA's own Champions League). CAF also introduced prize money for participants for the first time with the initial offering of US$1 million to the winners and US$750,000 to the runners-up, making the rebranded competition the richest African club competition at the time.

In the new format, the league champions of the respective CAF member countries go through a series of qualification rounds until a round of 16 stage. The 8 winners are then drawn into two groups 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 team in each group met in the final, in two-legged games (home and away).

The_football_team_of_Zamalek_club_that_won_the_last_CAF_Champions_League_in_2002
Zamalek SC, winners of the 2002 CAF Champions League

In the 2001 season, the CAF introduced the semi-finals after group stage, then the top two teams in each group met in the semi-finals, with the winners going through to contest the final.

Beginning with the 2009 season, the prize money increased to $1.5 million for the champions and $1 million for the runner-ups. Since the competition rebranded in 1997, teams from North Africa have come to dominate the competition and its records. Morocco's Raja CA won two of the first three editions,[13] but Al Ahly became the most successful team, winning the tournaments in 2001,[14] 2005,[15] 2006,[16] 2008[17] and 2012,[18] while Zamalek managed to be champions in 2002.[19] Tunisian teams broke into the championship with the title of Étoile du Sahel, which in 2007 was proclaimed champion after being finalist in 2004 and 2005.[20] For its part, Espérance de Tunis achieved its second continental title in 2011 after having lost in the final in the 1999, 2000, 2010 and 2012 editions.[21]

Mohamed Aboutrika, 5-time CAF Champions league winner with Al Ahly

Despite the clear dominance of North African teams, in 2003 and 2004, Nigerian team Enyimba won their first two championship titles.[22][23] ASEC Mimosas from Ivory Coast and Accra Hearts of Oak from Ghana added two championships for West Africa. In 2010, TP Mazembe from the DRC became the first club to repeat as champions on two occasions, with the first pair of wins arriving in 1967 and 1968,[24][25] before repeating the feat again in 2009 and 2010.[26][27] In 2017, the group phase was expanded from 2 groups of 4 teams to 4 groups of 16, with the addition of an extra knock-out round.

The 2020–21 season was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa inline with global football leagues and competitions. Nevertheless, Al Ahly faced bitter rivals Zamalek in an-all Egyptian final (the first time two clubs from the same country compete in any final in CAF competition history),[28] with the former emerging victorious and winning its ninth title.[29] Al Ahly successfully defended their title for a record-extending 10th time the following season by beating Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa,[30] but were unable to secure a 3rd consecutive title in a row and 11th title in 2022 as they were defeated 2–0 by Moroccan club Wydad AC who instead captured their 3rd CAF Champions League title.[31]

With the introduction of the Africa Football League in the 2023–24 season, CAF plans to keep the Champions League, as the new competition will not be its replacement.[32] However, CAF could potentially eliminate the group phase and have the competition exclusively made up of two-legged knockout matchups, as per the original format in 1964 to 1996.[33]

Structure and qualification[edit]

Qualification[edit]

The CAF Champions League is open to the winners of all CAF-affiliated national leagues, as well as the title holders from the previous season. From the 2004 season onward, with the merging of the CAF Cup and the African Cup Winners' Cup to create the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup, the runners-up of football leagues of the 12 highest-ranked countries also enter the tournament, making up a total of 64 in-competition teams. The 12 countries would be ranked based on the performance of their clubs in the previous 5 seasons/editions of the competition (the plain definition of the CAF 5-year ranking).[34]

The number of teams that each association enters into the CAF Champions League is determined annually through criteria as set by the CAF Competitions Committee.[35] The higher an association's ranking as determined by the criteria, the more teams represent the association in the Champions League, and the fewer qualification rounds the association's teams must compete in.

The CAF Champions League operates primarily as a knockout competition, with trim-down qualification rounds, a group stage, a two-legged knockout stage and a one-off final. At the start of the competition, the 64 qualified teams enter 2 qualification rounds: the preliminary stage and the first round. After the first qualifying round, the remaining teams are split into four groups of 4, whereas the teams each first-round winner vanquished transfer to the second qualification round of the Confederation Cup for hopes of group stage progression. The winners and runners-up of each group progress to the two-legged knockout stage for hopes of progression to a one-off final for a chance to lift the trophy for their member association.

Sponsorship[edit]

In October 2004, MTN contracted a four-year deal to sponsor CAF's competitions worth US$12.5 million, which at that time was the biggest sponsorship deal in African sporting history.[36]

In 2008, CAF put a value of €100 million for a comprehensive and long-term package of its competitions when it opened tenders for a new sponsor, which was scooped up by French telecommunications giant Orange through the signing of an eight-year deal the following year in July, whose terms were not disclosed.[37]

On 21 July 2016, French oil and gas giant, Total S.A., secured an eight-year sponsorship package from CAF to support its competitions, including its main competition, the Africa Cup of Nations.[38] In 2021, Total rebranded as TotalEnergies, although it remained as the competitions' title sponsors.[39]

Current Sponsors:

Title Sponsor Official Sponsors Former Sponsor Ball Supplier

Prizes[edit]

Trophy and medals[edit]

Official trophy

Each year, the winning team is presented with the African Champion Clubs' Cup, the current version of which has been awarded since the competition name change in 1997. Forty gold medals are presented to the competition winners and 40 silver medals to the runners-up.

1997–2008[edit]

In 1997, CAF introduced prize money for the eight participants in group stage for the first time in an African football club competition. This first trunch lasted until 2008.

Final
position		 Prize money
Champions US$1,000,000
Runners-up US$750,000
Semi-finalists US$427,500
3rd in group stage US$261,250
4th in group stage US$190,000

2009–2016[edit]

Between 2009 and 2016, CAF increased prize money to be shared between the Top 8 clubs as follows:[49]

Final
position		 Prize money
Champions US$1,500,000
Runners-up US$1,000,000
Semi-finalists US$700,000
3rd in group stage US$500,000
4th in group stage US$400,000

2017–2022[edit]

From 2017 to 2022, CAF increased prize money to be shared between the Top 16 clubs as follows:[50][51][52]

Final
position		 Prize money
Champions US$2,500,000
Runners-up US$1,250,000
Semi-finalists US$875,000
Quarter-finalists US$650,000
3rd in group stage US$550,000
4th in group stage US$550,000

* Note: National Associations receive an additional equivalent share of 5% for each amount awarded to clubs.

2023[edit]

In 2023, CAF increased prize money to be shared between the Top 16 clubs as follows[53]

Final
position		 Prize money
Champions US$4,000,000
Runners-up US$2,000,000
Semi-finalists US$1,200,000
Quarter-finalists US$900,000
3rd in group stage US$700,000
4th in group stage US$700,000

Broadcast coverage[edit]

Below are the current broadcast rights holders of this competition:[54]

Country/Region Channels
 Algeria EPTV
 ASEAN beIN Sports
 Morocco Arryadia
 Benin ORTB
 Europe Sportfive
 Portugal Sport TV
 France beIN Sports
 Burkina Faso RTB
Latin America ESPN
 Nigeria
 Ghana
Arab League MENA beIN Sports
 South Africa
[56]
Western Balkans Sport Klub
 United States beIN Sports
Sub-Saharan Africa
East Africa

Records and statistics[edit]

Main article: African Cup of Champions Clubs and CAF Champions League records and statistics

List of finals[edit]

Main article: List of African Cup and CAF Champions League finals
  • In 1965 and from 2020 to 2022, the final was played under a single match.
  • In 1967 and 1971 the winner was defined after playing a third match.
Keys
  •   Defined after a replay
  •   Defined according to the away goals
  •   Defined after extra time in the second leg
  •   Defined on penalty shoot-out in the second leg
Year Team 1 1st.
leg 		2nd.
leg 		Replay/
Agg. 		Team 2 Venue
(1st leg) 		Venue
(2nd leg) 		Venue
(Replay)
African Cup of Champions Clubs
1965 Cameroon Oryx Douala
2–1
 Mali Stade Malien Accra Stadium, Accra
—
1966 Mali Real Bamako
3–1
1–4
4–5
 Ivory Coast Stade Abidjan Municipal, Bamako F. Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan
—
1967 Ghana Asante Kotoko
1–1
2–2
w/o[n 1]
 Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Englebert Kumasi Sports, Kumasi 20 Mai, Kinshasa Omnisports, Yaoundé
1968 Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Englebert
5–0
1–4
6–4
 Togo Étoile Filante 20 Mai, Kinshasa Général Eyadema, Lomé
—
1969 Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Englebert
2–2
1–3
3–5
 United Arab Republic Ismaily 20 Mai, Kinshasa Nasser, Cairo
1970 Ghana Asante Kotoko
1–1
2–1
3–2
 Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Englebert Kumasi Sports, Kumasi 20 Mai, Kinshasa
1971 Ghana Asante Kotoko
3–0
0–2
0–1[n 2]
 Cameroon Canon Yaoundé Kumasi Sports, Kumasi Militaire Garoua, Yaoundé Militaire Garoua, Yaoundé
1972 Guinea Hafia
4–2
3–2
7–4
 Uganda Simba 28 Septembre, Conakry Nakivubo, Kampala
—
1973 Ghana Asante Kotoko
4–2
0–3
4–5
 Zaire Vita Club Kumasi Sports, Kumasi 20 Mai, Kinshasa
1974 Republic of the Congo CARA Brazzaville
4–2
2–1
6–3
 Egypt Ghazl El Mahalla Revolution, Brazzaville El Mahalla, El-Mahalla El-Kubra
1975 Guinea Hafia
1–0
2–1
3–1
 Nigeria Enugu Rangers 28 Septembre, Conakry Surulere, Lagos
1976 Guinea Hafia
3–0
0–3
(1–3 p)
 Algeria MC Alger 28 Septembre, Conakry 5 Juillet, Algiers
1977 Ghana Hearts of Oak
0–1
2–3
2–4
 Guinea Hafia Accra Sports, Accra 28 Septembre, Conakry
1978 Guinea Hafia
0–0
0–2
0–2
 Cameroon Canon Yaoundé 28 Septembre, Conakry Omnisport, Yaoundé
1979 Ghana Hearts of Oak
1–0
0–1
(3–5 p)
 Cameroon Union Douala Accra Sports, Accra Omnisport, Yaoundé
1980 Cameroon Canon Yaoundé
2–2
3–0
5–2
 Zaire AS Bilima Garoua, Garoua 20 Mai, Kinshasa
1981 Algeria JE Tizi Ouzou
4–0
1–0
5–0
 Zaire Vita Club 1 November, Tizi Ouzou 20 Mai, Kinshasa
1982 Egypt Al Ahly
3–0
1–1
4–1
 Ghana Asante Kotoko Cairo International, Cairo Kumasi Sports, Kumasi
1983 Egypt Al Ahly
0–0
0–1
0–1
 Ghana Asante Kotoko Cairo International, Cairo Kumasi Sports, Kumasi
1984 Egypt Zamalek
2–0
1–0
3–0
 Nigeria Shooting Stars Cairo International, Cairo Surulere, Lagos
1985 Morocco AS FAR
5–2
1–1
6–3
 Zaire AS Bilima Moulay Abdellah, Rabat Mobutu, Lubumbashi
1986 Egypt Zamalek
2–0
0–2
(4–2 p)
 Ivory Coast Africa Sports Cairo International, Cairo F. Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan
1987 Sudan Al Hilal
0–0
0–2
0–2
 Egypt Al Ahly Al Hilal, Omdurman Cairo International, Cairo
1988 Nigeria Iwuanyanwu Nationale
1–0
0–4
1–4
 Algeria Entente de Sétif Liberty, Ibadan 17 Juin, Constantine
1989 Morocco Raja CA
1–0
0–1
(4–2 p)
 Algeria MC Oran Mohamed V, Casablanca 19 Juin, Oran
1990 Algeria JS Kabylie
1–0
0–1
(5–3 p)
 Zambia Nkana Red Devils 5 Juillet, Algiers Independence, Lusaka
1991 Tunisia Club Africain
6–2
1–1
7–3
 Uganda SC Villa El Menzah, Tunis Nakivubo, Kampala
1992 Morocco Wydad AC
2–0
0–0
2–0
 Sudan Al Hilal Mohamed V, Casablanca Al Hilal, Omdurman
1993 Ghana Asante Kotoko
0–0
0–0
(6–7 p)
 Egypt Zamalek Kumasi Sports, Kumasi Cairo International, Cairo
1994 Egypt Zamalek
0–0
1–3
1–3
 Tunisia ES Tunis Cairo International, Cairo El Menzah, Tunis
1995 South Africa Orlando Pirates
2–2
1–0
3–2
 Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas FNB, Johannesburg F. Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan
1996 Nigeria Shooting Stars
2–1
1–2
(4–5 p)
 Egypt Zamalek Lekan Salami, Ibadan Cairo International, Cairo
CAF Champions League
1997 Ghana Obuasi Goldfields
1–0
0–1
(4–5 p)
 Morocco Raja CA Len Clay, Obuasi Mohamed V, Casablanca
—
1998 Zimbabwe Dynamos
0–0
2–4
2–4
 Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas National Sports, Harare F. Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan
1999 Morocco Raja CA
0–0
0–0
(4–3 p)
 Tunisia ES Tunis Père Jégo, Casablanca El Menzah, Tunis
2000 Tunisia ES Tunis
1–2
1–3
2–5
 Ghana Hearts of Oak El Menzah, Tunis Sports Stadium, Accra
2001 South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns
1–1
0–3
1–4
 Egypt Al Ahly Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Cairo International, Cairo
2002 Morocco Raja CA
0–0
0–1
0–1
 Egypt Zamalek Mohamed V, Casablanca Cairo International, Cairo
2003 Nigeria Enyimba
2–0
0–1
2–1
 Egypt Ismaily Enyimba International, Aba Ismailia, Ismailia
2004 Tunisia ES Sahel
2–1
1–2
(3–5 p)
 Nigeria Enyimba Olympique de Sousse, Sousse Enyimba International, Aba
2005 Tunisia ES Sahel
0–0
0–3
0–3
 Egypt Al Ahly Olympique de Sousse, Sousse Military Academy, Cairo
2006 Egypt Al Ahly
1–1
1–0
2–1
 Tunisia CS Sfaxien Cairo International, Cairo 7 November, Radès
2007 Tunisia ES Sahel
0–0
3–1
3–1
 Egypt Al Ahly Olympique de Sousse, Sousse Cairo International, Cairo
2008 Egypt Al Ahly
2–0
2–2
4–2
 Cameroon Coton Sport Cairo International, Cairo Roumdé Adjia, Garoua
2009 Nigeria Heartland
2–1
0–1
2–2
 Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe Dan Anyiam, Owerri F. Kibassa Maliba, Lubumbashi
2010 Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe
5–0
1–1
6–1
 Tunisia ES Tunis F. Kibassa Maliba, Lubumbashi 7 November, Radès
2011 Morocco Wydad AC
0–0
0–1
0–1
 Tunisia ES Tunis Mohamed V, Casablanca Olympique de Radès, Radès
2012 Egypt Al Ahly
1–1
2–1
3–2
 Tunisia ES Tunis Borg El Arab, Alexandria Olympique de Radès, Radès
2013 South Africa Orlando Pirates
1–1
0–2
1–3
 Egypt Al Ahly Orlando, Johannesburg Osman Ahmed Osman, Cairo
2014 Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club
2–2
1–1
3–3
 Algeria ES Sétif Tata Raphaël, Kinshasa Mustapha Tchaker, Blida
2015 Algeria USM Alger
1–2
0–2
1–4
 Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe Omar Hamadi, Algiers TP Mazembe, Lubumbashi
2016 South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns
3–0
0–1
3–1
 Egypt Zamalek Masterpieces, Pretoria Borg El Arab, Alexandria
2017 Egypt Al Ahly
1–1
0–1
1–2
 Morocco Wydad AC Borg El Arab, Alexandria Mohamed V, Casablanca
2018 Egypt Al Ahly
3–1
0–3
3–4
 Tunisia ES Tunis Borg El Arab, Alexandria Olympique de Radès, Radès
2019 Morocco Wydad AC
1–1
Abandoned
0–1[n 3]
 Tunisia ES Tunis Moulay Abdellah, Rabat Olympique de Radès, Radès
2020 Egypt Al Ahly
2–1
 Egypt Zamalek Cairo International, Cairo
—
2021 Egypt Al Ahly
3–0
 South Africa Kaizer Chiefs Mohamed V, Casablanca
2022 Morocco Wydad AC
2–0
 Egypt Al Ahly Mohamed V, Casablanca
2023 Egypt Al Ahly
2–1
1–1
3–2
 Morocco Wydad AC Cairo International, Cairo Mohamed V, Casablanca
—
Notes
  1. ^ TP Englebert won after Asante Kotoko failed to appear for the 3rd match.
  2. ^ For the final, only points aggregate, not goals aggregate was considered.
  3. ^ ES Tunis were declared champions after second leg was abandoned.

Performance by clubs[edit]

Performance in the African Cup and CAF Champions League by club
Club 		Titles Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runner-up
Egypt Al Ahly 11 5 1982, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2023 1983, 2007, 2017, 2018, 2022
Egypt Zamalek 5 3 1984, 1986, 1993, 1996, 2002 1994, 2016, 2020
Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe 5 2 1967, 1968, 2009, 2010, 2015 1969, 1970
Tunisia ES Tunis 4 4 1994, 2011, 2018, 2019 1999, 2000, 2010, 2012
Morocco Wydad AC 3 3 1992, 2017, 2022 2011, 2019, 2023
Guinea Hafia FC 3 2 1972, 1975, 1977 1976, 1978
Morocco Raja CA 3 1 1989, 1997, 1999 2002
Cameroon Canon Yaoundé 3 0 1971, 1978, 1980 —
Ghana Asante Kotoko 2 5 1970, 1983 1967, 1971, 1973, 1982, 1993
Algeria JS Kabylie 2 0 1981, 1990 —
Algeria ES Sétif 2 0 1988, 2014 —
Nigeria Enyimba 2 0 2003, 2004 —
Democratic Republic of the Congo Vita Club 1 2 1973 1981, 2014
Ghana Hearts of Oak 1 2 2000 1977, 1979
Tunisia ES Sahel 1 2 2007 2004, 2005
Egypt Ismaily 1 1 1969 2003
South Africa Orlando Pirates 1 1 1995 2013
Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas 1 1 1998 1995
South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns 1 1 2016 2001
Cameroon Oryx Douala 1 0 1965 —
Ivory Coast Stade d'Abidjan 1 0 1966 —
Republic of the Congo CARA Brazzaville 1 0 1974 —
Algeria MC Alger 1 0 1976 —
Cameroon Union Douala 1 0 1979 —
Morocco AS FAR 1 0 1985 —
Tunisia Club Africain 1 0 1991 —
Democratic Republic of the Congo AS Bilima 0 2 — 1980, 1985
Sudan Al-Hilal 0 2 — 1987, 1992
Nigeria Shooting Stars 0 2 — 1984, 1996
Nigeria Heartland 0 2 — 1988, 2009
Mali Stade Malien 0 1 — 1965
Mali Real Bamako 0 1 — 1966
Togo Étoile Filante du Togo 0 1 — 1968
Uganda Simba FC 0 1 — 1972
Egypt Ghazl Al-Mehalla 0 1 — 1974
Nigeria Enugu Rangers 0 1 — 1975
Ivory Coast Africa Sports 0 1 — 1986
Algeria MC Oran 0 1 — 1989
Zambia Nkana FC 0 1 — 1990
Uganda SC Villa 0 1 — 1991
Ghana Ashanti Gold 0 1 — 1997
Zimbabwe Dynamos FC 0 1 — 1998
Tunisia CS Sfaxien 0 1 — 2006
Cameroon Coton Sport 0 1 — 2008
Algeria USM Alger 0 1 — 2015
South Africa Kaizer Chiefs 0 1 — 2021


Performance by nations[edit]

Performances in finals by nation
Nation Winners Runners-up Total
 Egypt 17 10 27
 Morocco 7 4 11
 Tunisia 6 7 13
 DR Congo 6 6 12
 Algeria 5 2 7
 Cameroon 5 1 6
 Ghana 3 8 11
 Guinea 3 2 5
 Nigeria 2 5 7
 South Africa 2 3 5
 Ivory Coast 2 2 4
 Congo 1 0 1
 Mali 0 2 2
 Uganda 0 2 2
 Sudan 0 2 2
 Togo 0 1 1
 Zambia 0 1 1
 Zimbabwe 0 1 1

Performances by region[edit]

Federation (Region) Clubs Titles
UNAF (North Africa) Al Ahly (11), Zamalek (5), Espérance de Tunis (4), Raja CA (3), Wydad AC (3), ES Sétif (2), JS Kabylie (2), Étoile du Sahel (1), Ismaily (1), MC Alger (1), FAR Rabat (1), Club Africain (1) 35
UNIFFAC (Central Africa) TP Mazembe (5), Canon Yaoundé (3), CARA Brazzaville (1), Oryx Douala (1), Union Douala (1), Vita Club (1) 12
WAFU (West Africa) Hafia (3), Asante Kotoko (2), Enyimba (2), ASEC Mimosas (1), Hearts of Oak (1), Stade d'Abidjan (1) 10
COSAFA (Southern Africa) Orlando Pirates (1), Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 2
CECAFA (East Africa) 0

All-time table (Top 25 Clubs)[edit]

  • As of 22 May 2023. All matches including qualifying were taken into account with a game decided by penalties counted as draw. No awarded/withdrawn games were counted.
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Egypt Al Ahly (34) 327 169 89 69 518 249 +269 596
2 Tunisia Espérance de Tunis (28) 276 144 76 56 440 229 +211 508
3 Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas (30) 220 110 50 60 325 204 +121 380
4 Egypt Zamalek (26) 217 105 49 63 324 202 +122 364
5 Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe (27) 205 99 58 48 317 185 +132 355
6 Sudan Al Hilal (35) 210 81 61 68 265 221 +44 304
7 South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns (16) 142 76 38 28 246 126 +120 266
8 Morocco Wydad AC (15) 150 71 37 42 217 121 +96 250
9 Morocco Raja CA (20) 148 70 38 40 220 125 +95 248
10 Ghana Asante Kotoko (28) 145 68 37 40 219 140 +79 241
11 Tunisia Étoile du Sahel (15) 127 64 29 34 173 107 +66 221
12 Algeria JS Kabylie (17) 122 64 21 37 156 103 +53 213
13 Democratic Republic of the Congo AS Vita Club (22) 128 55 30 43 185 147 +38 195
14 Sudan Al Merrikh (26) 139 54 33 52 163 165 −2 195
15 Nigeria Enyimba (12) 107 55 19 33 186 101 +85 184
16 Ghana Hearts of Oak (19) 111 54 21 36 167 138 +29 183
17 Angola Petro de Luanda (21) 120 50 33 37 177 144 +33 183
18 Zimbabwe Dynamos (18) 103 49 18 36 139 113 +26 165
19 Tanzania Simba (20) 109 47 19 43 147 131 +16 160
20 Zambia Nkana (15) 89 45 23 21 137 85 +52 158
21 Algeria ES Sétif (12) 96 41 27 28 148 106 +42 150
22 Cameroon Coton Sport (18) 106 42 22 42 124 113 +11 148
23 Egypt Ismaily (10) 75 40 18 17 132 70 +62 138
24 Cameroon Canon Yaoundé (13) 79 40 17 22 120 87 +33 137
25 Ivory Coast Africa Sports (21) 88 40 17 31 128 99 +29 137
Source: [citation needed]

* Number in parentheses show number of participations.

Top goalscorers[edit]

Year Footballer Club Goals
African Cup of Champions Club era
1965 Mali Salif Keïta Mali Stade Malien 3
1966 Mali Salif Keïta Mali Stade Malien 14
1967 Egypt Badawi Abdel Fattah
Egypt Ahmed El-Qazzaz
Ghana Osei Kofi
Democratic Republic of the Congo Pierre Kalala
Democratic Republic of the Congo Leonard Saidi
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kamunda Tshinabu		 Egypt Al Olympi
Egypt Al Olympi
Ghana Asante Kotoko
Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Englebert
Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Englebert
Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Englebert		 2
1968 Democratic Republic of the Congo Pierre Kalala Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Englebert 7
1969 Egypt Ali Abo Greisha Egypt Ismaily 7
1970 Democratic Republic of the Congo Pierre Kalala Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Englebert 4
1971 Ghana Cecil Jones Attuquayefio Ghana Great Olympics 6
1972 Zambia Godfrey Chitalu Zambia Kabwe Warriors 13
1973 Guinea Chérif Souleymane Guinea Hafia FC 5
1974 Republic of the Congo Paul Moukila Republic of the Congo CARA Brazzaville 10
1975 Guinea N’Jo Léa Guinea Hafia FC 4
1976 Algeria Abdesslem Bousri Algeria MC Alger 5
1977 Egypt Mahmoud El Khatib Egypt Al Ahly SC 4
1978 Guinea Seydouba Bangoura
Democratic Republic of the Congo Mayanga Maku		 Guinea Hafia FC
Democratic Republic of the Congo AS Vita Club		 2
1979 Tanzania Ally Thuwen Tanzania Simba SC 3
1980 Cameroon Jean Manga Onguéné Cameroon Canon Yaoundé 9
1981 Egypt Mahmoud El Khatib Egypt Al Ahly SC 6
1982 Egypt Mahmoud El Khatib Egypt Al Ahly SC 6
1983 Egypt Mahmoud El Khatib Egypt Al Ahly SC 6
1984 Nigeria Felix Owolabi Nigeria Shooting Stars 5
1985 Algeria Mokhtar Chibani
Morocco Saâd Dahane
Morocco Abdellah Haidamou
Morocco Abderrazak Khairi		 Algeria GCR Mascara
Morocco FAR Rabat
Morocco FAR Rabat
Morocco FAR Rabat		 4
1986 Egypt Gamal Abdel Hamid Egypt Zamalek 7
1987 Egypt Mahmoud El Khatib Egypt Al Ahly SC 5
1988 Morocco Abdeslam Laghrissi Morocco FAR Rabat 7
1989 Algeria Mourad Meziane Algeria MC Oran 5
1990 Algeria Nacer Bouiche Algeria JS Kabylie 7
1991 Tunisia Faouzi Rouissi
Tunisia Adel Sellimi		 Tunisia Club africain
Tunisia Club africain		 6
1992 Zambia Kenneth Malitoli Zambia Nkana Red Devils 6
1993 Egypt Ayman Mansour Egypt Zamalek 5
1994 Nigeria Anthony Nwaigwe Nigeria Iwuanyanwu Nationale 7
1995 Ghana Deblah Kofi
Ivory Coast Sékou Bamba		 Ghana Obuasi Goldfields
Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas		 4
1996 Egypt Ahmed El-Kass
Egypt Ayman Mansour
Egypt Tarek Mostafa
Egypt Mohamed Sabry
Rwanda Julien Ndagano
Tunisia Skander Souayah		 Egypt Zamalek SC
Egypt Zamalek SC
Egypt Zamalek SC
Egypt Zamalek SC
Rwanda APR FC
Tunisia CS Sfaxien		 2
Champions League era
1997 Togo Kossi Noutsoudje Ghana Obuasi Goldfields 7
1998 Ethiopia Aseged Tesfaye
Morocco Reda Ereyahi		 Ethiopia Ethiopian Coffee SC
Morocco Raja CA		 6
1999 Egypt Hossam Hassan Egypt Al Ahly 6
2000 Ghana Emmanuel Osei Kuffour Ghana Hearts of Oak 10
2001 Democratic Republic of the Congo Kapela Mbiyavanga Angola Petro Atlético 9
2002 Egypt Ahmed Belal
Ivory Coast Antonin Koutouan
Morocco Hicham Aboucherouane		 Egypt Al Ahly
Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas
Morocco Raja CA		 7
2003 Mali Dramane Traoré Egypt Ismaily 8
2004 Mali Mamadou Diallo Algeria USM Alger 10
2005 Egypt Mohamed Barakat
Ghana Joetex Frimpong		 Egypt Al Ahly
Nigeria Enyimba FC		 7
2006 Egypt Mohamed Aboutrika Egypt Al Ahly 8
2007 Democratic Republic of the Congo Trésor Mputu Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe 9
2008 Nigeria Stephen Worgu Nigeria Enyimba FC 13
2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo Dioko Kaluyituka Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe 8
2010 Nigeria Michael Eneramo Tunisia Espérance de Tunis 8
2011 Zimbabwe Edward Sadomba Sudan Al-Hilal 14
2012 Ghana Emmanuel Clottey Ghana Berekum Chelsea 12
2013 Cameroon Alexis Yougouda Kada Cameroon Coton Sport 7
2014 Algeria El Hedi Belameiri
Tunisia Haythem Jouini
Democratic Republic of the Congo Ndombe Mubele
Tanzania Mrisho Ngasa		 Algeria ES Sétif
Tunisia Espérance de Tunis
Democratic Republic of the Congo AS Vita Club
Tanzania Young Africans		 6
2015 Sudan Bakri Al-Madina
Tanzania Mbwana Samatta		 Sudan Al-Merrikh
Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe		 7
2016 Nigeria Mfon Udoh Nigeria Enyimba 9
2017 Tunisia Taha Yassine Khenissi
Ethiopia Saladin Said		 Tunisia Espérance de Tunis
Ethiopia Saint George		 7
2018 Tunisia Anice Badri Tunisia Espérance de Tunis 8
2018–19 Libya Moataz Al-Mehdi Libya Al-Nasr 7
2019–20 Democratic Republic of the Congo Jackson Muleka Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe 7
2020–21 Egypt Mohamed Sherif Egypt Al Ahly 6
2021–22 Brazil Tiago Azulão Angola Petro de Luanda 6
2022–23 Egypt Mahmoud Kahraba
Namibia Peter Shalulile		 Egypt Al Ahly
South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns		 6

All-time top scorers[edit]

Rank Nat Name Club Goals Apps
1 Democratic Republic of the Congo Trésor Mputu Mazembe
Kabuscorp 		39 73
2 Egypt Mohamed Aboutrika Al Ahly SC 31 85
3 Angola Flávio Amado Al Ahly SC 30
4 Egypt Mahmoud El Khatib Al Ahly SC 28 30
5 Egypt Emad Moteab Al Ahly SC 24 74
6 Tunisia Ali Zitouni Espérance Sportive de Tunis 23 22
Zimbabwe Edward Sadomba Dynamos
Al-Hilal
Al-Ahly 		23 24
8 Tanzania Mbwana Samatta Mazembe
Simba 		21 26
Zambia Clatous Chama Simba
RS Berkane 		21 51
10 Morocco Mouhcine Iajour Moghreb Tétouan
Wydad AC
Raja CA 		20 36
Democratic Republic of the Congo Dioko Kaluyituka Mazembe 20 45
13 Ghana Emmanuel Osei Kuffour Accra Hearts of Oak S.C. 19 13
Sudan Bakri Al-Madina Al-Merrikh SC
Al-Hilal 		19 35
15 Egypt Gamal Abdel-Hamid Al Ahly SC
Zamalek SC 		18 41
Nigeria Kelechi Osunwa Al-Merrikh SC
Al-Hilal 		18 21
Egypt Hussein El Shahat Al Ahly SC 18 55
18 Sudan Mudather El Tahir Al-Hilal 17 27
Egypt Hossam Hassan Al Ahly SC
Zamalek SC 		17 31
Egypt Walid Soliman Al Ahly SC 17 82
Egypt Mohamed Barakat Al Ahly SC 17 68
Mali Salif Keïta AS Real Bamako
Stade Malien 		17
South Africa Themba Zwane Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. 17 70
24 Algeria Billel Dziri USM Alger
Étoile Sportive du Sahel 		16
Ghana Joetex Asamoah Frimpong Enyimba F.C.
CS Sfaxien 		16
Niger Kamilou Daouda Coton Sport FC de Garoua
Al-Ittihad Club (Tripoli) 		16 37
Burkina Faso Ocansey Mandela Horoya AC 16 55
28 Algeria Karim Aribi Étoile Sportive du Sahel
CR Belouizdad 		15 24
Tunisia Ali Maaloul Al Ahly SC
CS Sfaxien 		15 87
Cameroon Yannick N'Djeng JSM Béjaïa
Espérance Sportive de Tunis 		15 39
Brazil Tiago Azulão Atlético Petróleos de Luanda 15 38
31 Sudan Muhannad El Tahir Al-Hilal 14 17
Morocco Achraf Bencharki Wydad AC
Zamalek SC 		14 38
Democratic Republic of the Congo Jackson Muleka Mazembe 14 38
Morocco Mohamed Nahiri Wydad AC
Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi
Raja CA 		14 40
Egypt Mohamed Sherif Al Ahly SC 14 39
Tunisia Anice Badri Espérance Sportive de Tunis 14 56
Nigeria Emeka Nwanna Enyimba F.C.
Heartland F.C. 		14 18
Namibia Peter Shalulile Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. 14 29

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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External links[edit]

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