The 2021 CAF Champions League final was the final match of the 2020–21 CAF Champions League, the 57th season of Africa's premier club football tournament organised by CAF, and the 25th edition under the current CAF Champions League title. It was played at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco on 17 July 2021.

Al Ahly defeated Kaizer Chiefs 3–0 to win a record-extending 10th CAF Champions League title. They also earned the right to play against Raja Casablanca, the winners of the 2020–21 CAF Confederation Cup, in the 2021–22 CAF Super Cup. Al Ahly also qualified for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in United Arab Emirates, entering from the second round.

Teams In the following table, finals until 1996 were in the African Cup of Champions Club era, since 1997 were in the CAF Champions League era.

TeamZonePrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners) Kaizer ChiefsCOSAFA (Southern Africa)None Al AhlyUNAF (North Africa)13 (1982, 1983, 1987, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2020)

Venue

For the second consecutive year, the final was played as a single match at a pre-selected venue by CAF instead of a two-legged fixtures format, which was being used in the competition since 1966.

On 16 May 2021, Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco was chosen by a CAF Executive Committee to host the final during a meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

Road to the final

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away). Kaizer ChiefsRound Al AhlyOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legQualifying roundsOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg PWD Bamenda1–01–0 (A)0–0 (H)Preliminary roundBye 1º de Agosto1–00–0 (H)1–0 (A)First round AS SONIDEP5–01–0 (A)4–0 (H)OpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult Wydad AC0–4 (A)Matchday 1 Al Merrikh3–0 (H) Horoya0–0 (H)Matchday 2 Simba0–1 (A) Petro de Luanda2–0 (H)Matchday 3 AS Vita Club2–2 (H) Petro de Luanda0–0 (A)Matchday 4 AS Vita Club3–0 (A) Wydad AC1–0 (H)Matchday 5 Al Merrikh2–2 (A) Horoya2–2 (A)Matchday 6 Simba1–0 (H)Group C runners-upFinal standingsGroup A runners-upOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legKnockout stageOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg Simba4–34–0 (H)0–3 (A)Quarter-finals Mamelodi Sundowns3–12–0 (H)1–1 (A) Wydad AC1–01–0 (A)0–0 (H)Semi-finals Espérance de Tunis4–01–0 (A)3–0 (H)

Format The final was played as a single match at a pre-selected venue, with the winner of semi-final 1 according to the knockout stage draw designated as the "home" team for administrative purposes. If scores were level after full time, extra time would not to be played and the winner would be decided by a penalty shoot-out (Regulations Article III. 28).

Match Details

GK 1 Daniel AkpeyiRB 2 Ramahlwe MphahleleCB 3 Eric MathohoCB 4 Daniel CardosoLB 23 Reeve FroslerRM 12 Njabulo Blom CM 14 Willard Katsande LM 25 Bernard Parker (c) RF 15 Nkosingiphile Ngcobo CF 9 Samir Nurković LF 19 Happy Mashiane Substitutes:GK 26 Bruce BvumaDF 20 Yagan SasmanDF 27 Siphosakhe Ntiya-NtiyaDF 30 Siyabonga NgezanaMF 5 Teddy Akumu MF 22 Philani Zulu FW 7 Lazarous Kambole FW 8 Leonardo CastroFW 11 Khama Billiat Manager: Stuart Baxter GK 1 Mohamed El Shenawy (c)RB 25 Akram TawfikCB 3 Badr Benoun CB 12 Ayman Ashraf LB 21 Ali MaâloulCM 17 Amr El SoliaCM 8 Hamdy FathyRW 14 Hussein El Shahat AM 19 Mohamed Magdy LW 27 Taher Mohamed CF 10 Mohamed Sherif Substitutes:GK 13 Ali LotfiDF 2 Mahmoud WahidDF 6 Yasser Ibrahim DF 30 Mohamed HanyMF 15 Aliou Dieng FW 7 Mahmoud Kahraba FW 9 Marwan MohsenFW 18 Salah Mohsen FW 28 Junior Ajayi Manager: Pitso Mosimane

Man of the Match: Mohamed Magdy(Al Ahly)

Assistant referees: Elvis Guy Noupue (Cameroon) Dick Okello (Uganda) Fourth official: Eric Otogo-Castane (Gabon) Video assistant referee: Rédouane Jiyed (Morocco) Assistant video assistant referees: Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco) Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)Match rules 90 minutes. Penalty shoot-out if scores level. Nine named substitutes, of which up to five may be used.

Statistics

+First halfStatisticKaizer ChiefsAl AhlyGoals scored00Total shots16Shots on target10Saves01Ball possession28%72%Corner kicks32Yellow cards11Red cards10

+Second halfStatisticKaizer ChiefsAl AhlyGoals scored03Total shots210Shots on target04Saves10Ball possession31%69%Corner kicks34Yellow cards04Red cards00

+OverallStatisticKaizer ChiefsAl AhlyGoals scored03Total shots316Shots on target14Saves11Ball possession30%70%Corner kicks66Yellow cards15Red cards10

See also 2021 CAF Confederation Cup Final 2021–22 CAF Super Cup

Notes

References

External links CAFonline.com