CAF 5-Year Ranking

The CAF 5-Year Ranking is used by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to determine the number of clubs that each CAF member association may enter in Africa's club football competitions, the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. At present, those associations ranked in the top twelve may enter two sides into each of the two continental tournaments, while the remaining associations are limited to a single side in each competition.

Introduction of the ranking

Prior to 2004, CAF organised three club tournaments (the CAF Champions League, the African Cup Winners' Cup, and the CAF Cup) with each association allowed to enter a single side in each tournament.

Starting from the 2004 season, the Cup Winners' Cup and CAF Cup were combined into a new tournament, the CAF Confederation Cup. Rather than limiting all associations to just two positions in CAF tournaments, CAF decided to allow the leading nations two entries into the new tournament, and also allow them a second entry in the Champions League.

As with the UEFA ranking used for their club tournaments, the CAF ranking is based on the results obtained in each of the past five completed club seasons (each weighted equally). There are some differences, notably:

More tournaments are included (the CAF Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup also allow teams to obtain points)
The annual results are not averaged by the number of entrants an association has (so highly ranked associations have a greater ability to obtain points)
Points are not awarded for the results of individual matches, only the final level of advancement (such as winners, or position in a group stage) determines ranking points
Only teams that advance to the final eight teams in each club tournament can obtain points

The initial ranking system

The initial classification (for 2004 tournaments) was made according to the performance of the associations in the previous 5 years (1998 to 2002) in club competitions held by the Confederation of African Football.

According to this system the associations selected were Tunisia (36 points), Egypt (31 points), Côte d'Ivoire (27 points), Morocco (24 points), South Africa (17 points), Algeria (17 points), Cameroon (14 points), Ghana (12 points), Angola (12 points), Nigeria (10 points), Congo DR (8 points), and Senegal (6 points).

Season 2005 controversy

In July 2004 the Confederation of African Football informed its members that the ranking system for admission to the various cups for the 2005 season would be done according to the same 1998-2002 ranking used for the 2004 season. It is unknown why CAF did not calculate a 1999-2003 ranking (following UEFA's practice of updating its rankings each season), as there would seem to have been enough time to do this.^[1] Since then, it has become CAF's policy to adopt a year older ranking for the competitions of the new season. So, for the 2012 season, rankings were based on results from 2006 to 2010.

Season 2011 change

In December 2010 CAF altered the ranking system, removing the components from the Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, and weighting more recent results more highly. For 2011 competitions, results from seasons 2005 to 2009 were still used, but the points from 2009 were multiplied by 5, from 2008 by 4 and so on.^[2]^[3]

Season 2017 expansion

Starting from 2017 season, the group stage of both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup was expanded from eight to 16 teams, divided into four groups of four, and a quarter-final stage was added after the group stage.^[4]^[5] The CAF announced the ranking system based on the new format in March 2018.^[6]

Criteria for awarding points

CAF approved its basic criteria, based on the criteria used in the election of the CAF Clubs of the 20th Century on 2000, for awarding points in 2003. Since then the only change (added in 2005) has been the addition of criteria that rewards clubs that advance to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.^[7] This methodology has also been used to create an all-time ranking for CAF clubs (adding the points that would have been obtained by each club based on its results since 1965).

The table below shows the years during which the tournament was run (although for the CAF 5-year rankings only results since 1998 have counted). Since 2011 the Super Cup and FIFA World Cup Club have been excluded.^[8]

Competition	6 Points	5 Points	4 Points	3 Points	2 Points	1 Point	0.5 Point
Competitions used in current rankings^[6]
CAF Champions League	Champions	Runners-up	Semi-finalist	Quarter-finalist (from 2017)	3rd in Group Stage	4th in Group Stage
CAF Confederation Cup		Champions	Runners-up	Semi-finalist	Quarter-finalist (from 2017)	3rd in Group Stage	4th in Group Stage
Competitions used in previous rankings
CAF Champions League 1997–2016		Champions	Runners-up	Semi-finalist	3rd in Group Stage	4th in Group Stage
CAF Confederation Cup 2004–2016			Champions	Runners-up	Semi-finalist	3rd in Group Stage 4th in Group Stage
CAF Super Cup 1992–2010						Champions
FIFA Club World Cup 2005–2010	Champions		Runners-up 3rd Place		4th Place

Weighting factor

Since the 2011 CAF competitions, when computing the rankings, points have been weighted according to the year of the results. For example, for the ranking points calculated based on performances in continental club championships for the period 2013–2017, the points are multiplied by a coefficient according to the year as follow:^[9]

2017 – 5
2016 – 4
2015 – 3
2014 – 2
2013 – 1

Association ranking

Ranking for 2018 CAF competitions

Ranking for 2018 CAF Champions League and 2018 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF tournament (Champions League and Confederation Cup) from 2012 to 2016.^[2]

Legend

CL: CAF Champions League
CC: CAF Confederation Cup
Associations ranked 1–12 and eligible to enter two teams in each CAF tournament (Champions League and Confederation Cup)

Rank	Association	2012 (× 1)		2013 (× 2)		2014 (× 3)		2015 (× 4)		2016 (× 5)		Total
Rank	Association	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	Total
1	Egypt	6	0	7	0	1	4	1	4	6	0	85
2	Tunisia	4	0	3	7	5	1	0	6	0	2	76
3	DR Congo	3	0	0	3	7	0	5	0	0	4	70
4	Algeria	2	0	0	1	5	0	7	0	0	3	62
5	South Africa	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	3	5	0	45
6	Morocco	0	1	0	1	0	0	2	0	3	3	41
7	Sudan	0	5	0	0	2	0	6	0	0	0	35
8	Ivory Coast	0	0	2	0	0	4	0	0	1	0	21
9	Zambia	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	18
10	Congo	0	4	1	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	16
11	Mali	0	4	0	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	15
12	Nigeria	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	13
13	Cameroon	0	0	3	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	12
14	Libya	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	8
15	Ghana	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	7
16	Tanzania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5
17	Angola	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
18	Ethiopia	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2

Ranking for 2018–19 CAF competitions

Ranking for 2018–19 CAF Champions League and 2018–19 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF tournament (Champions League and Confederation Cup) from 2013 to 2017.

Legend

CL: CAF Champions League
CC: CAF Confederation Cup
Associations ranked 1–12 and eligible to enter two teams in each CAF tournament (Champions League and Confederation Cup)

Rank	Association	2013 (× 1)		2014 (× 2)		2015 (× 3)		2016 (× 4)		2017 (× 5)		Total
Rank	Association	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	Total
1	Tunisia	4	9	6	0.5	0	6	0	3	7	5	116
2	Egypt	8	0	1	5	1	6	7	0	7	0.5	106.5
3	DR Congo	0	4	9	0	6	0	0	5	1	5	90
4	Morocco	0	1	0	0	2	0	4	4	6	3	84
5	Algeria	0	0.5	6	0	8	0	0	4	4	2	82.5
6	South Africa	5	0	0	0	0	4	6	0	3	4.5	78.5
7	Sudan	0	0	2	0	8	0	0	0	3	2	53
8	Zambia	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	0	2	2	38
9	Libya	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0.5	3	0	19
10	Cameroon	4	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	15
10	Ivory Coast	2	0	0	4.5	0	0	1	0	0	0	15
10	Mozambique	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	15
13	Ethiopia	0	0.5	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	10.5
13	Nigeria	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0.5	10.5
15	Congo	1	0	0	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	10
16	Mali	0	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	8
17	Angola	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6
18	Guinea	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5
18	Swaziland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5
18	Uganda	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5
18	Zimbabwe	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5
22	Ghana	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4
23	Gabon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.5	2.5
24	Tanzania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.5	0	0	2

Ranking for 2019–20 CAF competitions

Ranking for 2019–20 CAF Champions League and 2019–20 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF tournament (Champions League and Confederation Cup) from 2014 to 2018.

Legend

CL: CAF Champions League
CC: CAF Confederation Cup
Associations ranked 1–12 and eligible to enter two teams in each CAF tournament (Champions League and Confederation Cup)

Ranking as of 23 September 2018 (associations still competing in 2018 CAF Champions League or 2018 CAF Confederation Cup and whose points may increase are marked by ≥):

Rank	Association	2014 (× 1)		2015 (× 2)		2016 (× 3)		2017 (× 4)		2018 (× 5)		Total
Rank	Association	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	CL	CC	Total
1	Morocco	0	0	2	0	4	4	6	3	5	≥5	≥114
2	Tunisia	6	0.5	0	6	0	3	7	5	≥7	0	≥110.5
3	Egypt	1	5	1	6	7	0	7	0.5	≥4	≥3	≥106
4	Algeria	6	0	8	0	0	4	4	2	≥5	2	≥93
5	DR Congo	9	0	6	0	0	5	1	5	3	≥3	≥90
6	South Africa	0	0	0	4	6	0	3	4.5	2	0	66
7	Sudan	2	0	8	0	0	0	3	2	0	0.5	40.5
8	Zambia	0	1	0	0	4	0	2	2	2	0	39
9	Angola	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	≥4	0	≥24
10	Nigeria	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0.5	0	≥3	≥23
11	Guinea	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	19
12	Ivory Coast	0	4.5	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	17.5
13	Mozambique	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	17
14	Congo	0	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	15
15	Libya	1	0	0	0	0	0.5	3	0	0	0	14.5
16	Uganda	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	14
17	Rwanda	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	10
18	Swaziland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	9
19	Ethiopia	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	8
20	Cameroon	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	7
21	Ghana	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0.5	5.5
21	Mali	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.5	5.5
23	Botswana	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5
23	Kenya	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5
23	Togo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5
26	Tanzania	0	0	0	0	0	0.5	0	0	0	0.5	4
26	Zimbabwe	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	4
28	Gabon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.5	0	0	2

Historical rankings since 2011

Legend

Associations ranked 1–12 and eligible to enter two teams in each CAF tournament (Champions League and Confederation Cup)
T–: Tied rank
NR: No rank

Association	Rank (Points)
Association	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2018–19
Tunisia	1 (98)	1 (97)	1 (100)	1 (85)	1 (106)	1 (105)	1 (100)	2 (76)	1 (116)
Egypt	2 (83)	2 (81)	3 (64)	2 (70)	2 (80)	2 (81)	2 (80)	1 (85)	2 (106.5)
DR Congo	5 (46)	3 (60)	5 (49)	6 (48)	3 (46)	3 (63)	3 (69)	3 (70)	3 (90)
Morocco	T–8 (20)	7 (27)	4 (62)	5 (53)	4 (44)	7 (29)	T–7 (24)	6 (41)	4 (84)
Algeria	6 (27)	6 (45)	7 (43)	7 (40)	T–7 (32)	4 (44)	4 (64)	4 (62)	5 (82.5)
South Africa	T–14 (10)	T–16 (5)	17 (1)	NR	11 (20)	12 (16)	6 (27)	5 (45)	6 (78.5)
Sudan	4 (50)	5 (47)	6 (47)	4 (54)	6 (37)	5 (33)	5 (51)	7 (35)	7 (53)
Zambia	T–14 (10)	T–12 (13)	14 (10)	14 (7)	T–16 (4)	T–15 (6)	T–14 (4)	9 (18)	8 (38)
Libya	16 (9)	10 (16)	T–12 (11)	T–15 (6)	T–16 (4)	14 (7)	T–14 (4)	14 (8)	9 (19)
Cameroon	10 (19)	11 (14)	8 (19)	11 (12)	T–9 (21)	T–8 (26)	11 (19)	13 (12)	T–10 (15)
Ivory Coast	7 (22)	T–12 (13)	T–12 (11)	T–15 (6)	13 (13)	6 (30)	T–9 (23)	8 (21)	T–10 (15)
Mozambique	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	T–10 (15)
Ethiopia	NR	NR	NR	NR	15 (5)	17 (4)	17 (3)	18 (2)	T–13 (10.5)
Nigeria	3 (75)	4 (58)	2 (70)	3 (63)	5 (41)	11 (22)	12 (12)	12 (13)	T–13 (10.5)
Congo	NR	NR	NR	9 (20)	T–9 (21)	T–8 (26)	T–7 (24)	10 (16)	15 (10)
Mali	T–8 (20)	8 (21)	10 (16)	8 (31)	T–7 (32)	T–8 (26)	T–9 (23)	11 (15)	16 (8)
Angola	11 (18)	T–12 (13)	9 (18)	10 (18)	12 (17)	13 (11)	13 (7)	17 (3)	17 (6)
Guinea	T–18 (1)	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	T–18 (5)
Swaziland	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	T–18 (5)
Uganda	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	T–18 (5)
Zimbabwe	12 (17)	9 (18)	11 (13)	13 (8)	18 (3)	T–18 (1)	NR	NR	T–18 (5)
Ghana	13 (12)	15 (6)	16 (2)	12 (11)	14 (8)	T–15 (6)	T–14 (4)	15 (7)	22 (4)
Gabon	T–18 (1)	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	23 (2.5)
Tanzania	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	16 (5)	24 (2)
Equatorial Guinea	17 (2)	18 (1)	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Niger	NR	T–16 (5)	15 (4)	17 (3)	19 (2)	T–18 (1)	NR	NR	NR

Note: CAF did not publish any tiebreaking criteria for determining the 12th ranked association. In 2012, Côte d'Ivoire received two entries in each tournament, while Angola and Zambia only received one entry in each. In 2013, Côte d'Ivoire received two entries in each tournament, while Libya only received one entry in each.

Club ranking

Club ranking is used for seeding in the CAF competitions.

Legend

Enter 2018 CAF Champions League
Enter 2018 CAF Confederation Cup

Rank	Club	2013 (× 1)	2014 (× 2)	2015 (× 3)	2016 (× 4)	2017 (× 5)	Total
1	TP Mazembe	4	4	6	5	5	75
2	Al-Ahly	6	5	3	2	5	58
3	Étoile du Sahel	1	0.5	5	3	4	49
4	Wydad Casablanca	0	0	0	4	6	46
5	Zamalek	2	1	3	5	2	43
6	Mamelodi Sundowns	0	0	0	6	3	39
7	USM Alger	0	0	5	0	4	35
8	FUS Rabat	1	0	0	3	3	28
9	ZESCO United	0	0	0	4	2	26
10	CS Sfaxien	5	4	0.5	0	2	24.5
10	Espérance de Tunis	4	2	0.5	0	3	24.5
12	Al-Merrikh	0	0	4	0	2	22
13	Al-Hilal	0	2	4	0	1	21
14	SuperSport United	0	0	0	0	4	20
15	ES Sétif	0.5	6	2	0	0	18.5
16	Al-Ahli Tripoli	0	0	0	0.5	3	17
16	Orlando Pirates	5	0	4	0	0	17
18	MO Béjaïa	0	0	0	4	0	16
19	Coton Sport	4	3	0	0	1	15
19	AS Vita Club	0	5	0	0	1	15
19	Ferroviário Beira	0	0	0	0	3	15
19	Club Africain	0	0	0	0	3	15
23	Saint George	0.5	0	0	0	2	10.5
24	MC Alger	0	0	0	0	2	10
24	AC Léopards	1	3	1	0	0	10
24	Séwé Sport	2	4	0	0	0	10
24	Al-Hilal Al-Ubayyid	0	0	0	0	2	10
24	Zanaco	0	0	0	0	2	10
29	Enyimba	0	0	0	2	0	8
30	Recreativo do Libolo	1	0	0	0	1	6
30	Stade Malien	3	0	1	0	0	6
30	Moghreb Tétouan	0	0	2	0	0	6
33	Smouha	0	0	1	0	0.5	5.5
34	Horoya	0	0	0	0	1	5
34	ASEC Mimosas	0	0.5	0	1	0	5
34	Mbabane Swallows	0	0	0	0	1	5
34	KCCA	0	0	0	0	1	5
34	CAPS United	0	0	0	0	1	5
39	Medeama	0	0	0	1	0	4
39	Kawkab Marrakech	0	0	0	1	0	4
41	MC El Eulma	0	0	1	0	0	3
41	CA Bizertin	3	0	0	0	0	3
43	CF Mounana	0	0	0	0	0.5	2.5
43	Rivers United	0	0	0	0	0.5	2.5
43	Platinum Stars	0	0	0	0	0.5	2.5
46	Al-Ahly Benghazi	0	1	0	0	0	2
46	AS Real Bamako	0	1	0	0	0	2
46	Young Africans	0	0	0	0.5	0	2
46	Nkana	0	1	0	0	0	2

Ranking for 2018–19