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 Total CAF Champions League | |
---|---|
Tournament details | |
Dates | 7 August 2020 – TBC May 2021 |
Teams | Maximum: 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 ≥.
Association | Team | Qualifying method |
---|---|---|
TBD | Title holders (2019–20 CAF Champions League winners)[Note TH] | |
2019–20 Botola champions | ||
2019–20 Botola runners-up | ||
2019–20 Egyptian Premier League champions | ||
2019–20 Egyptian Premier League runners-up | ||
2019–20 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champions | ||
2019–20 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 runners-up | ||
TP Mazembe | 2019–20 Linafoot champions[Note COD] | |
AS Vita Club | 2019–20 Linafoot runners-up[Note COD] | |
2019–20 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champions | ||
2019–20 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 runners-up | ||
2019–20 South African Premier Division champions | ||
2019–20 South African Premier Division runners-up | ||
2019–20 Zambian Super League champions | ||
2019–20 Zambian Super League runners-up | ||
2019–20 Nigeria Professional Football League champions | ||
2019–20 Nigeria Professional Football League runners-up | ||
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] | |
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] | |
2019–20 Sudan Premier League champions | ||
2019–20 Sudan Premier League runners-up | ||
2019–20 Libyan Premier League champions | ||
2019–20 Libyan Premier League runners-up |
Association | Team | Qualifying method |
---|---|---|
Simba | 2019–20 Tanzanian Premier League champions | |
2019–20 Côte d'Ivoire Ligue 1 champions | ||
Gor Mahia | 2019–20 Kenyan Premier League champions[Note KEN] | |
FC Platinum | 2019 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champions | |
Costa do Sol | 2019 Moçambola champions | |
AS Otohô | 2019–20 Congo Ligue 1 champions[Note CGO] | |
Vipers | 2019–20 Uganda Premier League champions[Note UGA] | |
2019–20 Ghana Premier League champions | ||
2019–20 Malian Première Division champions | ||
APR | 2019–20 Rwanda Premier League champions[Note RWA] | |
2019–20 Premier League of Eswatini champions | ||
None | No representative[Note ETH] | |
Jwaneng Galaxy | 2019–20 Botswana Premier League champions[Note BOT] | |
ASKO Kara | 2019–20 Togolese Championnat National champions[Note TOG] | |
2019–20 Benin Premier League champions | ||
2019–20 Ligue 1 Mauritania champions | ||
Rahimo | 2018–19 Burkinabé Premier League champions[Note BFA] | |
PWD Bamenda | 2019–20 Elite One champions[Note CMR] | |
2019–20 Gabon Championnat National D1 champions | ||
Le Messager Ngozi | 2019–20 Burundi Premier League champions | |
TBC[Note CPV] | ||
2019–20 Central African Republic League champions | ||
2020 Chad Premier League champions | ||
2020 Comoros Premier League champions | ||
2019–20 Djibouti Premier League champions | ||
Cano Sport | 2018–19 Equatoguinean Primera División champions[Note EQG] | |
2020 Eritrean Premier League champions | ||
Real de Banjul | 2019–20 GFA League First Division first place at time of abandonment[Note GAM] | |
2019–20 Campeonato Nacional da Guiné-Bissau champions | ||
2019–20 Lesotho Premier League champions | ||
2019–20 Liberian First Division League Champions League play-off winners[Note LBR] | ||
2019–20 Pro League Madagascar champions | ||
Nyasa Big Bullets | 2019 Super League of Malawi champions | |
TBC[Note MRI] | ||
2019–20 Namibia Premier League champions | ||
AS SONIDEP | 2018–19 Niger Premier League champions[Note NIG] | |
JS Saint-Pierroise | 2019 Réunion Premier League champions | |
Agrosport de Monte Café | 2019 São Tomé and Príncipe Championship champions | |
2019–20 Senegal Premier League champions | ||
2019–20 Seychelles First Division champions | ||
2019–20 Sierra Leone National Premier League champions | ||
2019–20 Somali First Division champions | ||
None | No representative[Note SSD] | |
2019–20 Zanzibar Premier League champions |
- Notes
- ^ 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]
- ^ Angola (ANG): The 2019–20 Girabola was abandoned by the Angolan Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Angola (season cancelled, title not awarded). Petro de Luanda and 1º de Agosto, who were the top two teams at the time of abandonment, will represent Angola in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[8]
- ^ 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 the top team at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Botswana in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[9]
- ^ Burkina Faso (BFA): The 2019–20 Burkinabé Premier League was abandoned by the Burkinabé Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Burkina Faso (season cancelled, title not awarded). Rahimo, who were the 2018–19 Burkinabé Premier League champions, will represent Burkina Faso in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[10]
- ^ 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 the top team at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Cameroon in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[11]
- ^ Cape Verde (CPV): The 2020 Cape Verdean Football Championships was abandoned by the Cape Verdean Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Cape Verde (season cancelled, title not awarded). The team which will represent Cape Verde in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League (if any) will be confirmed later.[12]
- ^ 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 the top team at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions (they were already assured of being champions by then), will represent Congo in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[13]
- ^ 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 and AS Vita Club, who were the top two teams at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions and runners-up, will represent DR Congo in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[14]
- ^ Equatorial Guinea (EQG): The 2019–20 Equatoguinean Primera División was abandoned by the Equatoguinean Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Equatorial Guinea (season cancelled, title not awarded). Cano Sport, who were the 2018–19 Equatoguinean Primera División champions, will represent Equatorial Guinea in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[15]
- ^ Ethiopia (ETH): The 2019–20 Ethiopian Premier League was abandoned by the Ethiopian Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia (season cancelled, title not awarded). No team will represent Ethiopia in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[16]
- ^ Gambia (GAM): The 2019–20 GFA League First Division was abandoned by the Gambia Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Gambia (season cancelled, title not awarded). Real de Banjul, who were the top team at the time of abandonment, will represent Gambia in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[17]
- ^ Guinea (GUI): The 2019–20 Guinée Championnat National was abandoned by the Guinean Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea (season cancelled, title not awarded). Horoya and Ashanti de Siguiri, who were the top two teams after 13 rounds (last completed round at the time of abandonment), will represent Guinea in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[18]
- ^ 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 the top team at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Kenya in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[19]
- ^ Liberia (LBR): The 2019–20 Liberian First Division League was abandoned by the Liberia Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Liberia (season cancelled, title not awarded). The winner of a play-off will represent Liberia in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[20]
- ^ Mauritius (MRI): The 2019–20 Mauritian Premier League was abandoned by the Mauritius Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritius (season cancelled, title not awarded). The team which will represent Mauritius in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League (if any) will be confirmed later.[21]
- ^ Niger (NIG): The 2019–20 Niger Premier League was abandoned by the Nigerien Football Federation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Niger (season cancelled, title not awarded). AS SONIDEP, who were the 2018–19 Niger Premier League champions, will represent Niger in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[22]
- ^ 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 the top team 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.[23]
- ^ South Sudan (SSD): The 2020 South Sudan Football Championship was abandoned by the South Sudan Football Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Sudan (season cancelled, title not awarded). No team will represent South Sudan in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[24]
- ^ 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 the top team at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Togo in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[25]
- ^ 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 the top team at the time of abandonment (table considered final) and declared champions, will represent Uganda in the 2020–21 CAF Champions League.[26]
Schedule
The schedule of the competition is as follows.[27]
Phase | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualifying | Preliminary round | TBA 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 | TBC May 2021 |
See also
References
- "Total, Title Sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations and Partner of African Football". CAF. 21 July 2016.
- "CAF Champions League regulations" (PDF). CAF.
- "CAF Holds Executive Committee Meeting ahead of CAN Total U-23 Final". CAF. 21 November 2019.
- "16 Clubs for Group Phase of CC and CL effective 2017". CAF. 11 May 2016.
- "New adopted format for Club Competitions". CAF. 30 May 2016.
- "CAF disowns club ranking published by some websites". Cafonline.com. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- "COVID-19 impact on African leagues". CAFonline.com. 6 May 2020.
- "Interclube coloca Sagrada na Taça da Confederação". jornaldeangola.sapo.ao. 23 May 2020.
- "Galaxy Declared Premiership Champions". mmegi.bw. 15 June 2020.
- "COVID-19 au Burkina Faso : Le championnat national annulé !". burkina24.com. 4 May 2020.
- "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.
- "Covid-19: Cabo Verde cancela época desportiva". dw.com. 8 May 2020.
- "Compétitions interclubs de la CAF : la reconquête des places, la préoccupation des clubs congolais". adiac-congo.com. 12 May 2020.
- "Foot-RDC : Mazembe sacré champion du Congo". radiookapi.net. 13 March 2020.
- "Guinée équatoriale : Cano Sport et Akonangui en interclubs CAF". africatopsports.com. 9 June 2020.
- "Ethiopian Premier League Season Voided". soccerethiopia.net. 5 May 2020.
- "Gambian League gets canceled". futaa.com. 22 May 2020.
- "Coupe CAF: la Féguifoot désigne le CI Kamsar et ouvre la voie à la polémique". guinee114.com. 5 May 2020.
- "FKF ends season, declares Gor KPL champions". citizentv.co.ke. 30 April 2020.
- "Liberia Football Federation Shuts Down National League Over COVID-19 Pandemic". frontpageafricaonline.com. 5 May 2020.
- "Football – Championnats: saison blanche !". lexpress.mu. 6 April 2020.
- "Le Niger annule lui aussi sa saison". sofoot.com. 5 May 2020.
- "APR crowned champions as season ends due to Covid-19". newtimes.co.rw. 22 May 2020.
- "Coronavirus: South Sudan cancels league outright". bbc.com. 21 May 2020.
- "Togo - Asko de Kara, sacré champion de la D1". icilome.com. 27 May 2020.
- "Vipers declared 2019/20 Premier League champions". newvision.co.ug. 20 May 2020.
- "Interclubs competition calendar; seasons 2018/19, 2019/20 & 2020/21" (PDF). CAF.