2020–21 CAF Champions League

The 2020–21 CAF Champions League (officially the 2020–21 Total CAF Champions League for sponsorship reasons)[1] will be the 57th edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the 25th edition under the current CAF Champions League title.

2020–21 CAF Champions League
2020–21 Total CAF Champions League
Tournament details
DatesTBD – 28 May 2021
TeamsMaximum: 68 (from 56 associations)

The winners of the 2020–21 CAF Champions League will earn the right to play against the winners of the 2020–21 CAF Confederation Cup in the 2021 CAF Super Cup.[2] The top three teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in China.[3]

Association team allocation

All 56 CAF member associations may enter the CAF Champions League, with the 12 highest ranked associations according to their CAF 5-Year Ranking eligible to enter two teams in the competition.[2] As a result, theoretically a maximum of 68 teams could enter the tournament – although this level has never been reached.

For the 2020–21 CAF Champions League, the CAF uses the 2016–2020 CAF 5-Year Ranking, which calculates points for each entrant association based on their clubs’ performance over those 5 years in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. The criteria for points are the following:[4][5][6]

CAF Champions League CAF Confederation Cup
Winners 6 points 5 points
Runners-up 5 points 4 points
Losing semi-finalists 4 points 3 points
Losing quarter-finalists (from 2017) 3 points 2 points
3rd place in groups 2 points 1 point
4th place in groups 1 point 0.5 point

The points are multiplied by a coefficient according to the year as follows:

  • 2019–20 – 5
  • 2018–19 – 4
  • 2018 – 3
  • 2017 – 2
  • 2016 – 1

Teams

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, associations may abandon their domestic competitions and select the representatives in CAF club competitions.[7]

Associations are shown according to their 2016–2020 CAF 5-Year Ranking (to be confirmed by CAF) – those with a ranking score have their rank and score indicated. Updated after CAF Champions League/Confederation Cup matches on 8 March 2020, points which may increase marked by ≥.

Associations eligible to enter two teams (Ranked 1–12)
Association Team Qualifying method
TBD Title holders (2019–20 CAF Champions League winners)[Note TH]
 Morocco (1st – ≥185 pts) 2019–20 Botola champions
2019–20 Botola runners-up
 Egypt (2nd – ≥147 pts) 2019–20 Egyptian Premier League champions
2019–20 Egyptian Premier League runners-up
 Tunisia (3rd – 140 pts) 2019–20 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champions
2019–20 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 runners-up
 DR Congo (4th – 83 pts) TP Mazembe 2019–20 Linafoot champions[Note COD]
AS Vita Club 2019–20 Linafoot runners-up[Note COD]
 Algeria (5th – 81 pts) CR Belouizdad 2019–20 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champions[Note ALG]
MC Alger 2019–20 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 runners-up[Note ALG]
 South Africa (6th – 68.5 pts) 2019–20 South African Premier Division champions
2019–20 South African Premier Division runners-up
 Zambia (?th – 43 pts) Nkana 2019–20 Zambian Super League champions
Forest Rangers 2019–20 Zambian Super League runners-up
 Nigeria (?th – 39 pts) Plateau United 2019–20 Nigeria Professional Football League first place by points per game at time of abandonment[Note NGA]
Rivers United 2019–20 Nigeria Professional Football League second place by points per game at time of abandonment[Note NGA]
 Guinea (?th – ≥38 pts) Horoya 2019–20 Guinée Championnat National first place after 13 rounds[Note GUI]
Ashanti de Siguiri 2019–20 Guinée Championnat National second place after 13 rounds[Note GUI]
 Angola (10th – 36 pts) Petro de Luanda 2019–20 Girabola first place at time of abandonment[Note ANG]
1º de Agosto 2019–20 Girabola second place at time of abandonment[Note ANG]
 Sudan (11th – 29.5 pts) 2019–20 Sudan Premier League champions
2019–20 Sudan Premier League runners-up
 Libya (12th – 16.5 pts) None No representative (excluded by CAF)[Note LBY]
None No representative (excluded by CAF)[Note LBY]
Associations eligible to enter one team
Association Team Qualifying method
 Tanzania (13th – 14 pts) Simba 2019–20 Tanzanian Premier League champions
 Ivory Coast (14th – 13.5 pts) Racing Club Abidjan 2019–20 Côte d'Ivoire Ligue 1 champions[Note CIV]
 Kenya (T-15th – 11 pts) Gor Mahia 2019–20 Kenyan Premier League champions[Note KEN]
 Zimbabwe (T-15th – 11 pts) FC Platinum 2019 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champions
 Mozambique (17th – 9 pts) Costa do Sol 2019 Moçambola champions
 Congo (T-18th – 8 pts) AS Otohô 2019–20 Congo Ligue 1 champions[Note CGO]
 Uganda (T-18th – 8 pts) Vipers 2019–20 Uganda Premier League champions[Note UGA]
 Ghana (T-20th – 6.5 pts) Asante Kotoko 2019 GFA Normalization Committee Special Competition Tier 1 winners[Note GHA]
 Mali (T-20th – 6.5 pts) 2019–20 Malian Première Division champions
 Rwanda (22nd – 6 pts) APR 2019–20 Rwanda Premier League champions[Note RWA]
 Eswatini (23rd – 5 pts) 2019–20 Premier League of Eswatini champions
 Ethiopia (24th – 4 pts) None No representative[Note ETH]
 Botswana (T-25th – 3 pts) Jwaneng Galaxy 2019–20 Botswana Premier League champions[Note BOT]
 Togo (T-25th – 3 pts) ASKO Kara 2019–20 Togolese Championnat National champions[Note TOG]
 Benin (T-27th – 2.5 pts) Buffles du Borgou 2018–19 Benin Premier League champions[Note BEN]
 Mauritania (T-27th – 2.5 pts) 2019–20 Ligue 1 Mauritania champions
 Burkina Faso (T-29th – 2 pts) Rahimo 2018–19 Burkinabé Premier League champions[Note BFA]
 Cameroon (T-29th – 2 pts) PWD Bamenda 2019–20 Elite One champions[Note CMR]
 Gabon (31st – 1 pts) Bouenguidi Sport 2019–20 Gabon Championnat National D1 Group A first place at time of abandonment[Note GAB]
 Burundi Le Messager Ngozi 2019–20 Burundi Premier League champions
 Cape Verde TBC[Note CPV]
 Central African Republic None No representative[Note CTA]
 Chad 2020 Chad Premier League champions
 Comoros 2020 Comoros Premier League champions
 Djibouti 2019–20 Djibouti Premier League champions
 Equatorial Guinea Cano Sport 2018–19 Equatoguinean Primera División champions[Note EQG]
 Eritrea 2020 Eritrean Premier League champions
 Gambia Real de Banjul 2019–20 GFA League First Division first place at time of abandonment[Note GAM]
 Guinea-Bissau 2019–20 Campeonato Nacional da Guiné-Bissau champions
 Lesotho Bantu 2019–20 Lesotho Premier League champions[Note LES]
 Liberia 2019–20 Liberian First Division League Champions League play-off winners[Note LBR]
 Madagascar 2019–20 Pro League Madagascar champions
 Malawi Nyasa Big Bullets 2019 Super League of Malawi champions
 Mauritius TBC[Note MRI]
 Namibia 2019–20 Namibia Premier League champions
 Niger AS SONIDEP 2018–19 Niger Premier League champions[Note NIG]
 Réunion JS Saint-Pierroise 2019 Réunion Premier League champions
 São Tomé and Príncipe Agrosport 2019 São Tomé and Príncipe Championship champions
 Senegal Teungueth 2019–20 Senegal Premier League first place at time of abandonment[Note SEN]
 Seychelles Foresters 2019–20 Seychelles First Division champions
 Sierra Leone TBC[Note SLE]
 Somalia Mogadishu City 2019–20 Somali First Division champions
 South Sudan None No representative[Note SSD]
 Zanzibar Mlandege 2019–20 Zanzibar Premier League champions
Notes
  1. ^
    Title holders (TH): The association of the title holders is not allowed to enter more than the eligible number of teams according to the CAF 5-Year Ranking. As a result, if the title holders do not qualify through their domestic competitions but choose to defend their title, they will replace a team from their association, either the league champions if the association is eligible to enter one team, or the league runners-up if the association is eligible to enter two teams (Regulations IV. 5).[2]
  2. ^
    Algeria (ALG): The 2019–20 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 was abandoned by the Algerian Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria. CR Belouizdad, who were at first place at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, and MC Alger, who were at second place by points per game, will represent Algeria in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[8]
  3. ^
    Angola (ANG): The 2019–20 Girabola was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Angolan Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Angola. Petro de Luanda and 1º de Agosto, who were at first and second place at the time of abandonment, will represent Angola in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[9]
  4. ^
    Benin (BEN): The 2019–20 Benin Premier League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Benin Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Benin. Buffles du Borgou, who were the 2018–19 Benin Premier League champions, will represent Benin in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[10]
  5. ^
    Botswana (BOT): The 2019–20 Botswana Premier League was abandoned by the Botswana Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana. Jwaneng Galaxy, who were at first place at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Botswana in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[11]
  6. ^
    Burkina Faso (BFA): The 2019–20 Burkinabé Premier League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Burkinabé Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Burkina Faso. Rahimo, who were the 2018–19 Burkinabé Premier League champions, will represent Burkina Faso in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[12]
  7. ^
    Cameroon (CMR): The 2019–20 Elite One was abandoned by the Cameroonian Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon. PWD Bamenda, who were at first place at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Cameroon in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[13]
  8. ^
    Cape Verde (CPV): The 2020 Cape Verdean Football Championships was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Cape Verdean Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Cape Verde. The team which will represent Cape Verde in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League (if any) will be confirmed later.[14]
  9. ^
    Central African Republic (CTA): The 2019–20 Central African Republic League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Central African Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Central African Republic. No team will represent the Central African Republic in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[15]
  10. ^
    Congo (CGO): The 2019–20 Congo Ligue 1 was abandoned by the Congolese Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Congo. AS Otohô, who were at first place at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions (they were already assured of the title by then), will represent Congo in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[16]
  11. ^
    DR Congo (COD): The 2019–20 Linafoot was abandoned by the Congolese Association Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in DR Congo. TP Mazembe, who were at first place at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, and AS Vita Club, who were at second place, will represent DR Congo in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[17]
  12. ^
    Equatorial Guinea (EQG): The 2019–20 Equatoguinean Primera División was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Equatoguinean Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Equatorial Guinea. Cano Sport, who were the 2018–19 Equatoguinean Primera División champions, will represent Equatorial Guinea in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[18]
  13. ^
    Ethiopia (ETH): The 2019–20 Ethiopian Premier League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Ethiopian Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. No team will represent Ethiopia in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[19]
  14. ^
    Gabon (GAB): The 2019–20 Gabon Championnat National D1 was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Gabonese Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Gabon. Bouenguidi Sport, who were at Group A first place (better ranked between two groups) at the time of abandonment, will represent Gabon in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[20]
  15. ^
    Gambia (GAM): The 2019–20 GFA League First Division was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Gambia Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Gambia. Real de Banjul, who were at first place at the time of abandonment, will represent Gambia in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[21]
  16. ^
    Ghana (GHA): The 2019–20 Ghana Premier League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Ghana Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. Asante Kotoko, who were the 2019 GFA Normalization Committee Special Competition Tier 1 winners, will represent Ghana in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[22]
  17. ^
    Guinea (GUI): The 2019–20 Guinée Championnat National was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Guinean Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea. Horoya and Ashanti de Siguiri, who were at first and second place after 13 rounds (last completed round at the time of abandonment), will represent Guinea in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[23]
  18. ^
    Ivory Coast (CIV): The 2019–20 Côte d'Ivoire Ligue 1 was abandoned by the Ivorian Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ivory Coast. Racing Club Abidjan, who were at first place at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Ivory Coast in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[24]
  19. ^
    Kenya (KEN): The 2019–20 Kenyan Premier League was abandoned by the Football Kenya Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. Gor Mahia, who were at first place at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Kenya in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[25]
  20. ^
    Lesotho (LES): The 2019–20 Lesotho Premier League was abandoned by the Lesotho Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Lesotho. Bantu, who were at first place at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Lesotho in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[26]
  21. ^
    Liberia (LBR): The 2019–20 Liberian First Division League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Liberia Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Liberia. The winner of a play-off will represent Liberia in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[27]
  22. ^
    Libya (LBY): No team will represent Libya in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League (excluded by CAF), since the Libyan Premier League and Libyan Cup had been suspended by the Libyan Football Federation for two consecutive years due to the Libyan Civil War.[28]
  23. ^
    Mauritius (MRI): The 2019–20 Mauritian Premier League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Mauritius Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritius. The team which will represent Mauritius in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League (if any) will be confirmed later.[29]
  24. ^
    Niger (NIG): The 2019–20 Niger Premier League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Nigerien Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Niger. AS SONIDEP, who were the 2018–19 Niger Premier League champions, will represent Niger in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[30]
  25. ^
    Nigeria (NGA): The 2019–20 Nigeria Professional Football League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Nigeria Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Plateau United and Rivers United, who were at first and second place by points per game at the time of abandonment, will represent Nigeria in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[31]
  26. ^
    Rwanda (RWA): The 2019–20 Rwanda Premier League was abandoned by the Rwanda Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda. APR, who were at first place after 23 rounds (last completed round at the time of abandonment, table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Rwanda in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[32]
  27. ^
    Senegal (SEN): The 2019–20 Senegal Premier League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Senegalese Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal. Tengueth, who were at first place at the time of abandonment, will represent Senegal in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[33]
  28. ^
    Sierra Leone (SLE): The 2019–20 Sierra Leone National Premier League was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the Sierra Leone Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone. The team which will represent Sierra Leone in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League (if any) will be confirmed later.[34]
  29. ^
    South Sudan (SSD): The 2020 South Sudan Football Championship was abandoned (season cancelled, title not awarded) by the South Sudan Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Sudan. No team will represent South Sudan in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[35]
  30. ^
    Togo (TOG): The 2019–20 Togolese Championnat National was abandoned by the Togolese Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Togo. ASKO Kara, who were at first place at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Togo in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[36]
  31. ^
    Uganda (UGA): The 2019–20 Uganda Premier League was abandoned by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda. Vipers, who were at first place at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Uganda in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[37]

Schedule

The original schedule of the competition is as follows.[38] The start of the competition had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phase Round Draw date First leg Second leg
Qualifying Preliminary round TBD 2020 7–9 August 2020 21–23 August 2020
First round 11–13 September 2020 25–27 September 2020
Group stage Matchday 1 7 October 2020 27–29 November 2020
Matchday 2 4–6 December 2020
Matchday 3 8–10 January 2021
Matchday 4 22–24 January 2021
Matchday 5 5–7 February 2021
Matchday 6 12–14 February 2021
Knockout stage Quarter-finals 17 February 2021 5–7 March 2021 19–21 March 2021
Semi-finals 9–11 April 2021 23–25 April 2021
Final 28 May 2021

See also

References
  1. "Total, Title Sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations and Partner of African Football". CAF. 21 July 2016.
  2. "CAF Champions League regulations" (PDF). CAF.
  3. "CAF Holds Executive Committee Meeting ahead of CAN Total U-23 Final". CAF. 21 November 2019.
  4. "16 Clubs for Group Phase of CC and CL effective 2017". CAF. 11 May 2016.
  5. "New adopted format for Club Competitions". CAF. 30 May 2016.
  6. "CAF disowns club ranking published by some websites". Cafonline.com. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  7. "COVID-19 impact on African leagues". CAFonline.com. 6 May 2020.
  8. "FAF : Le MCA en CAF CL, l'ESS en CAF Cup". dzfoot.com. 29 July 2020.
  9. "Interclube coloca Sagrada na Taça da Confederação". jornaldeangola.sapo.ao. 23 May 2020.
  10. "Covid-19 : Le championnat de football béninois annulé". fraternitebj.info. 1 July 2020.
  11. "Galaxy Declared Premiership Champions". mmegi.bw. 15 June 2020.
  12. "COVID-19 au Burkina Faso : Le championnat national annulé !". burkina24.com. 4 May 2020.
  13. "Cameroun - Football/Ligue 1: Le Coronavirus pousse la FECAFOOT a siffler la fin de sa saison sportive en consacrant PWD de Bamenda, champion du Cameroun !". cameroon-info.net. 12 May 2020.
  14. "Covid-19: Cabo Verde cancela época desportiva". dw.com. 8 May 2020.
  15. "RCA/Football: Annulation de la saison sportive 2019-2020 de toutes les compétions". radiondekeluka.org. 2 June 2020.
  16. "Compétitions interclubs de la CAF : la reconquête des places, la préoccupation des clubs congolais". adiac-congo.com. 12 May 2020.
  17. "Foot-RDC : Mazembe sacré champion du Congo". radiookapi.net. 13 March 2020.
  18. "Guinée équatoriale : Cano Sport et Akonangui en interclubs CAF". africatopsports.com. 9 June 2020.
  19. "Ethiopian Premier League Season Voided". soccerethiopia.net. 5 May 2020.
  20. "Bouenguidi Sport représentera le Gabon à la ligue africaine des champions". gabonactu.com. 10 July 2020.
  21. "Gambian League gets canceled". futaa.com. 22 May 2020.
  22. "Official: Asante Kotoko and Ashanti Gold to represent Ghana in 2020-21 Caf competitions". goal.com. 1 July 2020.
  23. "Coupe CAF: la Féguifoot désigne le CI Kamsar et ouvre la voie à la polémique". guinee114.com. 5 May 2020.
  24. "Côte d'Ivoire : La Ligue 1 arrêtée, le Racing d'Abidjan déclaré champion de la saison 2019-2020". koaci.com. 26 June 2020.
  25. "FKF ends season, declares Gor KPL champions". citizentv.co.ke. 30 April 2020.
  26. "Lesotho cancels football leagues, promotes two". futaa.com. 16 July 2020.
  27. "Liberia Football Federation Shuts Down National League Over COVID-19 Pandemic". frontpageafricaonline.com. 5 May 2020.
  28. "Libya's football clubs excluded from African competitions". middleeastmonitor.com. 17 June 2020.
  29. "Football – Championnats: saison blanche !". lexpress.mu. 6 April 2020.
  30. "Le Niger annule lui aussi sa saison". sofoot.com. 5 May 2020.
  31. "NFF cancels NPFL, sets Sept for resumption". msn.com. 11 July 2020.
  32. "APR crowned champions as season ends due to Covid-19". newtimes.co.rw. 22 May 2020.
  33. "Saison blanche: Teungueth FC et Jaraaf vont représenter le Sénégal en Ligue des champions et coupe CAF !". galsenfoot.com. 8 July 2020.
  34. "The 2020 Sierra Leone Premier League cancelled, with further decisions to be announced next week". vertexmedia.sl. 15 July 2020.
  35. "Coronavirus: South Sudan cancels league outright". bbc.com. 21 May 2020.
  36. "Togo - Asko de Kara, sacré champion de la D1". icilome.com. 27 May 2020.
  37. "Vipers declared 2019/20 Premier League champions". newvision.co.ug. 20 May 2020.
  38. "Interclubs competition calendar; seasons 2018/19, 2019/20 & 2020/21" (PDF). CAF.
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