The CAF Confederation Cup, known as the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup for sponsorship purposes, is an annual association football club competition established in 2004 from a merger of the CAF Cup and the African Cup Winners' Cup and organized by CAF.[1]
 | |
| Organising body | CAF |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 |
| Region | Africa |
| Number of teams |
|
| Qualifier for | CAF Super Cup |
| Related competitions | CAF Champions League |
| Current champions |  Zamalek (2nd title) |
| Most successful club(s) |  CS Sfaxien (3 titles) |
| Website | cafonline.com/confederation-cup |
 2024–25 CAF Confederation Cup | |
Clubs qualify for the competition based on their performance in their national leagues and cup competitions. It is the second-tier competition of African club football, ranking below the CAF Champions League. The winner of the tournament faces the winner of the aforementioned competition in the following season's CAF Super Cup.
Moroccan clubs have the highest number of victories (seven titles), followed by Tunisia with five. Morocco has the largest number of winning teams, with five clubs having won the title. The competition has been won by 13 clubs, five of which have won it more than once. Club Sfaxien is the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the tournament three times. Zamalek are the current defending champions, having beaten RS Berkane in the 2024 final.
History
edit| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2004 |  Hearts of Oak
|
| 2005 |  ASFAR
|
| 2006 | Étoile du Sahel
|
| 2007 | CS Sfaxien
|
| 2008 | CS Sfaxien (2)
|
| 2009 |  Stade Malien
|
| 2010 | FUS de Rabat
|
| 2011 | MAS Fez
|
| 2012 |  AC Léopards
|
| 2013 | CS Sfaxien (3)
|
| 2014 | Al Ahly
|
| 2015 | Étoile du Sahel (2)
|
| 2016 |  TP Mazembe
|
| 2017 | TP Mazembe (2)
|
| 2018 | Raja CA
|
| 2019 | Zamalek
|
| 2020 | RS Berkane
|
| 2021 | Raja CA (2)
|
| 2022 | RS Berkane (2)
|
| 2023 |  USM Alger
|
| 2024 | Zamalek (2)
|
| 2025 |
2004–2017: Beginnings, Tunisian dominance
editIn 2004, CAF merged the African Cup Winners' Cup created in 1975 with the CAF Cup introduced in 1992 to form a new competition called the Confederation Cup, which has since become the secondary African club competition.
In the first edition, the Ghanaian club Hearts of Oak won the edition by beating another Ghanaian club, Asante Kotoko in the final on Penalties.[2] The following year, Moroccan club AS FAR won the cup against Nigeria's Dolphin FC.[3] In 2006, Tunisian club Étoile du Sahel won the cup against Moroccan AS FAR (thanks to the away goals rule).[4]
The Tunisian club CS Sfaxien won the cup in 2007 by beating the Sudanese Al Merreikh 5 goals to 2 in aggregate score (4-2, 1-0).[5] The following season, Club Sfaxien again won the cup against another Tunisian club, Étoile du Sahel.[6] In 2009, Stade Malien won the edition by beating the Algerian club ES Sétif in the final, on penalties.[7] The following season, the Moroccan club Fath Union Sport won the cup against Tunisian Club Sfaxien, winning the return match 3 to 2.[8]
In 2011, Moroccan club Maghreb Fès defeated Tunisia's Club Africain in the final, on penalties.[9] The following year, Congolese club AC Léopards beat Malian club Djoliba AC in the final.[10] The 2013 edition saw CS Sfaxien win against Congolese TP Mazembe.[11] In 2014, the Egyptian club Al Ahly obtained its first confederation cup by beating the Ivorian club Séwé FC.[12] In 2015, Étoile du Sahel again won the cup by beating South African club Orlando Pirates.[13] TP Mazembe achieved the double in 2016 and 2017, beating Algerian club MO Béjaïa and South African SuperSport United respectively.[14][15]
2018–present: Moroccan dominance
editMoroccan club Raja CA won in 2018 against Congolese AS Vita Club.[16] In 2019, Zamalek SC beat Moroccan RS Berkane in the final, on Penalties.[17]
In 2020 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the matches were then played behind closed doors, the Moroccan club RS Berkane beat the Egyptians of Pyramids FC by the score of 1 to 0.[18] Since this season, the final has been played in a single game. In 2021, the Moroccan club Raja CA won the cup for the second time by beating JS Kabylie in the final with a score of 2 to 1.[19]
In 2022, Moroccan club RS Berkane won the cup for the second time, beating South African club Orlando Pirates in the final on penalties.[20] On 3 June 2023, USM Alger became the first Algerian club to win the confederation cup after beating Young Africans in the 2023 final.[21]
Qualification
editThe competition is composed of domestic cup winners from all 54 CAF member associations and the third-placed-finished club in the domestic leagues of the top twelve-ranked associations discounting/excluding the present year/season.
Format
editThe competition is played into two phases; the qualification phase and the main phase.[22]
Qualification phase
editThe competition begins with a preliminary round and then a first qualifying round played in a "trim-down" knock-out format with the away goals rule serving as tiebreakers.
Main phase
edit- The sixteen winning teams from the second qualifying round enter the group stage divided into four groups of four. Each team will play against the other three opponents in a round-robin system three points for a win.
- The group winners and runners-up qualify to a two-legged knock-out rounds which shall be played in two matches, home and away in three rounds (quarter-finals, semi-finals and the finals).
- In case of equality in the number of goals scored during the two matches, the team scoring the greatest number of away goals will be declared winner. If the number of goals scored on the away matches is equal, kicks from the penalty mark will be taken.
The Super Cup
editThe winners will face the CAF Champions League winners in the CAF Super Cup the following season on the former's home venue.
Sponsorship
editIn 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.[23]
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 in July the following year, whose terms were not disclosed.[24]
On 21 July 2016, French energy and petroleum giant Total S.A. (renamed TotalEnergies in 2021) secured an eight-year sponsorship package from CAF to sponsor its competitions, beginning with its flagship competition, the Africa Cup of Nations.[25]
Current Sponsors:
| Title Sponsor | Official Sponsors | Former Sponsor | Ball Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|
Prizes
editTrophy and medals
edit
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.
2009–2020
editCAF increased the prize money to be shared between the top 16 clubs.[35][36]
| Final position |
Prize money |
|---|---|
| Winner | US$1,250,000 |
| Runner-up | US$625,000 |
| Semi-finalists | US$450,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | US$350,000 |
| 3rd in group stage | US$275,000 |
| 4th in group stage | US$275,000 |
Note: National Associations receive an additional equivalent share of 5% for each amount awarded to clubs.
2023
editCAF increased the prize money to be shared between the top 8 clubs.[37]
| Final position |
Prize money |
|---|---|
| Winner | US$2,000,000 |
| Runner-up | US$1,000,000 |
| Semi-finalists | US$750,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | US$550,000 |
| 3rd in group stage | US$400,000 |
| 4th in group stage | US$400,000 |
Broadcast coverage
editBelow are the current broadcast rights holders of this competition:[38]
| Country/Region | Channels |
|---|---|
| Algeria
|
EPTV |
 ASEAN
|
beIN Sports |
 Benin
|
ORTB |
 Europe
|
Sportfive |
 France
|
beIN Sports |
 Burkina Faso
|
RTB |
| Latin America | ESPN |
| Ghana
|
|
 MENA
|
beIN Sports |
 South Africa
|
[40] |
| Western Balkans | Sport Klub |
 United States
|
beIN Sports |
| Sub-Saharan Africa |
|
| East Africa |
Records and statistics
editList of finals
editPerformance by clubs
edit Club
|
Titles | Runners-up | Seasons won | Seasons runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS Sfaxien
|
3 | 1 | 2007, 2008, 2013 | 2010 |
| RS Berkane
|
2 | 2 | 2020, 2022 | 2019, 2024 |
| Étoile du Sahel
|
2 | 1 | 2006, 2015 | 2008 |
| TP Mazembe
|
2 | 1 | 2016, 2017 | 2013 |
| Zamalek
|
2 | 0 | 2019, 2024 | |
| Raja CA
|
2 | 0 | 2018, 2021 | |
| FAR Rabat
|
1 | 1 | 2005 | 2006 |
| Hearts of Oak
|
1 | 0 | 2004 | |
| Stade Malien
|
1 | 0 | 2009 | |
| FUS Rabat
|
1 | 0 | 2010 | |
| MAS Fez
|
1 | 0 | 2011 | |
| AC Léopards
|
1 | 0 | 2012 | |
| Al Ahly
|
1 | 0 | 2014 | |
| USM Alger
|
1 | 0 | 2023 | |
| Orlando Pirates
|
0 | 2 | 2015, 2022 | |
| Asante Kotoko
|
0 | 1 | 2004 | |
 Dolphins FC
|
0 | 1 | 2005 | |
 Al-Merrikh
|
0 | 1 | 2007 | |
| ES Sétif
|
0 | 1 | 2009 | |
| Club Africain
|
0 | 1 | 2011 | |
| Djoliba AC
|
0 | 1 | 2012 | |
 Séwé Sport
|
0 | 1 | 2014 | |
| MO Béjaïa
|
0 | 1 | 2016 | |
| SuperSport United
|
0 | 1 | 2017 | |
| AS Vita Club
|
0 | 1 | 2018 | |
| Pyramids
|
0 | 1 | 2020 | |
| JS Kabylie
|
0 | 1 | 2021 | |
 Young Africans
|
0 | 1 | 2023 |
Performance by nations
edit| Nation | Winners | Runners-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco
|
7 | 3 | 10 |
| Tunisia
|
5 | 3 | 8 |
| Egypt
|
3 | 1 | 4 |
| DR Congo
|
2 | 2 | 4 |
| Algeria
|
1 | 3 | 4 |
| Ghana
|
1 | 1 | 2 |
| Mali
|
1 | 1 | 2 |
| Congo
|
1 | 0 | 1 |
| South Africa
|
0 | 3 | 3 |
| Ivory Coast
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
| Nigeria
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sudan
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
| Tanzania
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
Champions by region
edit| Federation (Region) | Champion(s) | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| UNAF (North Africa) | Club Sfaxien (3), Étoile du Sahel (2), Raja CA (2), RS Berkane (2), Zamalek (2), Al Ahly (1), FAR Rabat (1), FUS Rabat (1), MAS Fez (1), USM Alger (1) | 16 |
| UNIFFAC (Central Africa) | TP Mazembe (2), AC Léopards (1) | 3 |
| WAFU (West Africa) | Hearts of Oak (1), Stade Malien (1) | 2 |
| CECAFA (East Africa) | 0 | |
| COSAFA (Southern Africa) | 0 |
Top goalscorers
edit
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "CAFOnline.com". CAFOnline.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
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- ^ "African Club Competitions 2008". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
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- ^ "Raja Casablanca v Kabylie Match Report, 10/07/2021, CAF Confederation Cup | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
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- ^ "Regulations of the Confederation Cup 2006 - 2008" (PDF). CAF. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
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- ^ "Orange signs deal to sponsor African soccer competitions". Reuters. 28 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ "Total, Title Sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations and Partner of African Football". CAFOnline.com. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Total, Title Sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations and Partner of African Football". CAF. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
- ^ "Orange signs new eight-year partnership with CAF". CAF. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ^ "1xBet - Official sponsor of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) tournaments". CAFOnline.com. 6 February 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ^ Glendinning, Matthew (6 January 2022). "TikTok signs one-year CAF sponsorship, Umbro inks technical deal". SportBusiness. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "TikTok unites African football fans through partnership with Confederation of African Football". TikTok Newsroom. 6 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "TikTok signs one-year CAF sponsorship deal". Soccerex. 6 January 2022. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "QNET announces Sponsorship of Total CAF Champions League, Total CAF Confederation Cup, Total CAF Super Cup". CAF. 24 February 2018. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ "BUILDING AFRICAN FOOTBALL TOGETHER: UMBRO AND CAF ENTER INTO MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP". CAFOnline.com. 5 January 2022. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
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- ^ "CAF Executive Committee decisions". CAFOnline.com. 16 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ^ "Prize money for CAF competitions effective 2017". CAFOnline.com. 9 November 2016. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
- ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "CAF Interclub Prize Money Breakdown: TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup". CAFOnline.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "CAF appoints Broadcast Services partners for 2022-2023" (Press release). CAF. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ "StarTimes acquires broadcast rights of CAF Inter-Club competitions". Graphic Online. 8 February 2022. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
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