The 2009 CAF Champions League is the 45th edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the 13th edition under the current CAF Champions League format. The winner will participate in the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2010 CAF Super Cup.
Qualification 53 teams from 40 CAF member associations were entered officially in the 2009 CAF Champions League. The 12 highest ranked associations according to CAF 5-year ranking are eligible to enter 2 teams in the competition. For this year's competition, CAF used 2003–07 5-Year rankings in which 3 countries shared the 12th place – allowing 14 countries to enter a second team. Two other teams were entered after the official deadline and were placed in a special subsection on the draw.
Below is the qualification scheme for the competition. Nations are shown according to their CAF 5-year ranking – those with a ranking score have their rank and score indicated:
AssociationClubQualifying methodAssociations with two entrants (Ranked 1–12) Tunisia1(1st – 45 pts)Club Africain2007–08 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 championÉtoile du Sahel2007–08 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 runner-up Egypt2(2nd – 33 pts)Al Ahly2007–08 Egyptian Premier League champion Nigeria(3rd – 29 pts)Kano Pillars2007–08 Nigerian Premier League championHeartland2007–08 Nigerian Premier League runner-up Morocco(4th – 19 pts)FAR Rabat2007–08 Botola championIttihad Khemisset2007–08 Botola runner-up Ghana(5th – 13 pts)Asante Kotoko2007–08 Ghana Premier League championHeart of Lions2007–08 Ghana Premier League runner-up Ivory Coast(6th – 11 pts)Africa Sports National2008 Côte d'Ivoire Premier Division championASEC Mimosas2008 Côte d'Ivoire Premier Division runner-up Algeria(=7th – 9 pts)JS Kabylie2007–08 Algerian Championnat National championASO Chlef2007–08 Algerian Championnat National runner-up Cameroon(=7th – 9 pts)Coton Sport FC2007–08 MTN Elite one championCanon Yaoundé2007–08 MTN Elite one runner-up South Africa1(=9th – 7 pts)Supersport United2007–08 Premier Soccer League championAjax Cape Town2007–08 Premier Soccer League runner-up Sudan1(=9th – 7 pts)Al-Merreikh2008 Sudan Premier League championAl-Hilal2008 Sudan Premier League runner-up Angola(11th – 4 pts)Petro Atlético2008 Girabola (XXX) championPrimeiro de Agosto2008 Girabola (XXX) runner-up Congo DR1(=12th – 3 pts)DC Motema Pembe2007–08 Linafoot championTP Mazembe2007–08 Linafoot runner-up Libya(=12th – 3 pts)Al Ittihad Tripoli2007–08 Libyan Premier League championAl Ahly Tripoli2007–08 Libyan Premier League runner-up Senegal(=12th – 3 pts)AS Douanes2008 Senegal Premier League championCasa Sport2008 Senegal Premier League runner-upAssociations with one entrant (Fewer ranking points than the 12th CAF association) Rwanda(=15th – 2 pts)ATRACO2007–08 Rwandan Premier League champion Tanzania(=15th – 2 pts)Young Africans2007–08 Tanzanian Premier League champion Zambia(=15th – 2 pts)ZESCO United2008 Zambian Premier League champion Gabon(=18th – 1 pt)AS Mangasport2007–08 Gabon Championnat National D1 champion Guinea(=18th – 1 pt)Fello Star2008 Guinée Championnat National champion Zimbabwe(=18th – 1 pt)Monomotapa United2008 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champion Burkina FasoÉtoile Filante2007–08 Burkinabé Premier League champion BurundiAS Inter Star2008 Burundi Premier League champion Cape VerdeSporting Clube da Praia2008 Cape Verdean football Championships champion ChadElect-Sport FC2008 Chad Premier League champion ComorosEtoile d'Or2008 Comoros Premier League champion CongoCARA Brazzaville2008 Congo Premier League champion GambiaWallidan2008 GFA League First Division champion Guinea-BissauSporting Clube de Bafatá2008 Campeonato Nacional da Guiné-Bissau champion KenyaMathare United2008 Kenyan Premier League champion LiberiaMonrovia Black Star2008 Liberian Premier League champion MadagascarAcademie Ny Antsika2008 THB Champions League champion MaliDjoliba2007–08 Malian Première Division champion MauritiusCurepipe Starlight2007–08 Mauritian League champion MozambiqueFerroviário Maputo2008 Moçambola champion NigerAS Police2007–08 Niger Premier League champion RéunionUS Stade Tamponnaise2008 Réunion Premier League runner-up3 Sierra LeonePorts Authority F.C.2007–08 Sierra Leone National Premier League champion SwazilandRoyal Leopards2007–08 Swazi Premier League champion UgandaKampala City Council2007–08 Ugandan Super League champion ZanzibarMiembeni2008 Zanzibar Premier League championAssociations entered after the deadline Equatorial Guinea(=18th – 1 pt)Akonangui2008 Equatoguinean Premier League champion Central African RepublicStade Centrafricain2008 Central African Republic League champion
Italicised clubs withdrew without playing. Bolded clubs received a bye in the preliminary round, entering the tournament in the first round. Unranked associations have no ranking points and hence are equal 23rd (Malawi – ranked =18th – did not enter a champion this year).
1 The champions of Congo DR, South Africa, Sudan, and Tunisia were not given byes in the first stage although the runners-up were. Unlike European tournaments, seeding within the CAF draws is based on performance in continental tournaments only. 2 The 2007–08 Egyptian Premier League runner-up, Ismaily opted not to enter this competition, choosing instead to play in the 2008–09 Arab Champions League. The third-placed Egyptian side, Al-Zamalek were not allowed to replace them as the CAF Champions League regulations allow only national champions and runners-up to compete. 3 2008 Réunion Premier League Champion, JS Saint-Pierroise, banned from African club competitions after withdrawing from the 2007 CAF Champions League.
Qualifying rounds Preliminary round
The preliminary round first legs were played on 30 January – 1 February, and the second legs on 13–15 February 2009.
1 Played over one leg after first leg cancelled due to political violence in Madagascar
Dispensation round Two federations inscribed their clubs after the deadline, but were admitted for an intermediate round. However, the winning club could only gain access to the first round if another winning club from the preliminary round withdrew subsequently. The first leg was played on 22 February, and the second leg on 8 March 2009.
As no side withdrew from the first round, Akonangui were effectively eliminated as well.
First round The first round first legs were played on 13–15 March, and the second legs on 3–6 April 2009.
Second round The first leg will be on 17–19 April and the second leg on 1–3 May.
The losing teams from the second round advance to the CAF Confederation Cup 2009
Group stage
The draw for the group stage was held on 7 May in CAF headquarters in Cairo.
Étoile du Sahel and Al-Merreikh were seeded as level I, while TP Mazembe and Al-Hilal were seeded as level II.Criteria for the Draws for CAF’s Club competitions
Key to colours in group tablesGroup winners and runners-up advance to the Knockout stage
Group A
Group B
Knockout stage
Bracket
Semifinals The first legs were scheduled for 4 October and the second legs for 17–18 October.
Final
2–2 on aggregate. TP Mazembe won on the away goals rule.
Top goalscorers RankNameTeamGoals1 Dioko Kaluyituka TP Mazembe82 Endurance Idahor Al-Merreikh73 Victor Namo Kano Pillars6 Uche Agba Heartland Trésor Mputu TP Mazembe6 Muhannad Eltahir Al-Hilal5 Enoch Sakala ZESCO United8 Daniel Kamungenga Monomotapa United3 Clifford Chipalo ZESCO United Stanley Okoro Heartland Ike Thankgod Heartland Kabangu Mulota TP Mazembe
Notes List of players and teams (1/16th finals): Champions League
References
External links Official Site Official MTN CAF Champions League Website