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]

CAF Confederation Cup
Organising bodyCAF
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
RegionAfrica
Number of teams
  • 16 (group stage)
  • 59 (total)
Qualifier forCAF Super Cup
Related competitionsCAF Champions League
Current championsAlgeria USM Alger (1st title)
Most successful club(s)Tunisia Club Sfaxien (3 titles)
Websitecafonline.com/confederation-cup
2023–24 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 (7 titles), followed by Tunisia with 5. Morocco have the largest number of winning teams, with five clubs having won the title. The competition has been won by 13 clubs, 5 of which have won it more than once. Club Sfaxien is the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the tournament a record 3 times. USM Alger are the current defending champions, having beaten Young Africans in the 2023 final.[2]

History edit

Winners
CAF Cup / CAF Confederation Cup
Season CAF Cup
2004   Hearts of Oak
2005   ASFAR
2006   Étoile du Sahel
2007   Club Sfaxien
2008   Club Sfaxien (2)
2009   Stade Malien
2010   FUS de Rabat
2011   MAS Fez
2012   AC Léopards
2013   Club Sfaxien (3)
2014   Al Ahly
2015   Étoile du Sahel (2)
2016   TP Mazembe
2017   TP Mazembe (2)
2018   Raja CA
2019   Zamalek SC
2020   RS Berkane
2021   Raja CA (2)
2022   RS Berkane (2)
2023   USM Alger

2004–2017: Beginnings, Tunisian dominance edit

In 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.[3] The following year, Moroccan club AS FAR won the cup against Nigeria's Dolphin FC.[4] In 2006, Tunisian club Étoile du Sahel won the cup against Moroccan AS FAR (thanks to the away goals rule).[5]

The Tunisian club Club Sfaxien won the cup in 2007 by beating the Sudanese Al Merreikh 5 goals to 2 in aggregate score (4-2, 1-0).[6] The following season, Club Sfaxien again won the cup against another Tunisian club, Étoile du Sahel.[7] In 2009, Stade Malien won the edition by beating the Algerian club ES Sétif in the final, on penalties.[8] The following season, the Moroccan club Fath Union Sport won the cup against Tunisian Club Sfaxien, winning the return match 3 to 2.[9]

In 2011, Moroccan club Maghreb Fès defeated Tunisia's Club Africain in the final, on penalties.[10] The following year, Congolese club AC Léopards beat Malian club Djoliba AC in the final.[11] The 2013 edition saw CS Sfaxien win against Congolese TP Mazembe.[12] In 2014, the Egyptian club Al Ahly obtained its first confederation cup by beating the Ivorian club Séwé FC.[13] In 2015, Étoile du Sahel again won the cup by beating South African club Orlando Pirates.[14] TP Mazembe achieved the double in 2016 and 2017, beating Algerian club MO Béjaïa and South African SuperSport United respectively.[15][16]

2018–present: Moroccan dominance edit

 
Zamalek celebrating the title in 2019

Moroccan club Raja CA won in 2018 against Congolese AS Vita Club.[17] In 2019, Zamalek SC beat Moroccan RS Berkane in the final, on Penalties.[18]

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.[19] 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.[20]

In 2022, Moroccan club RS Berkane won the cup for the second time, beating South African club Orlando Pirates in the final on penalties.[21] On 3 June 2023, USM Alger became the first Algerian club to win the confederation cup after beating Young Africans in the 2023 final.[22]

Qualification edit

The 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 edit

The competition is played into two phases; the qualification phase and the main phase.[23]

Qualification phase edit

The 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 edit

The winners will face the CAF Champions League winners in the CAF Super Cup the following season on the former's home venue.

Sponsorship edit

In 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.[24]

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.[25]

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.[26]

Current Sponsors:

Title Sponsor Official Sponsors Former Sponsor Ball Supplier

Prizes edit

Trophy and medals edit

 
Official trophy

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 edit

CAF increased the prize money to be shared between the top 16 clubs.[36][37]

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 edit

CAF increased the prize money to be shared between the top 8 clubs.[38]

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 edit

Below are the current broadcast rights holders of this competition:[39]

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 [41]
Western Balkans Sport Klub
  United States beIN Sports
Sub-Saharan Africa
East Africa

Records and statistics edit

List of finals edit

Performance by clubs edit

Performance in the CAF Confederation Cup by club
Club
Titles Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runners-up
  CS Sfaxien 3 1 2007, 2008, 2013 2010
  ES Sahel 2 1 2006, 2015 2008
  TP Mazembe 2 1 2016, 2017 2013
  RS Berkane 2 1 2020, 2022 2019
  Raja Casablanca 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
  Zamalek 1 0 2019
  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

Performances in finals by nation
Nation Winners Runners-up Total
  Morocco 7 2 9
  Tunisia 5 3 8
  DR Congo 2 2 4
  Egypt 2 1 3
  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) Number
UNAF (North Africa) Club Sfaxien (3), Étoile du Sahel (2), Raja CA (2), RS Berkane (2), Al Ahly (1), FAR Rabat (1), FUS Rabat (1), MAS Fez (1), Zamalek (1), USM Alger (1) 15 titles
UNIFFAC (Central Africa) TP Mazembe (2), AC Léopards (1) 3 titles
WAFU (West Africa) Hearts of Oak (1), Stade Malien (1) 2 titles
CECAFA (East Africa) 0 titles
COSAFA (Southern Africa) 0 titles

Top goalscorers edit

Year Footballer Club Goals
2004   Ugochukwu Okeke
  Christopher Katongo
  Enugu Rangers
  Green Buffaloes
5
2005   Eric Gawu
  Khalid El Hirech
  Kelechi Osunwa
  King Faisal Babes
  AS Marsa
  Dolphins FC
7
2006   Manucho   Petro Atlético 8
2007   Trésor Mputu   TP Mazembe 11
2008   Eric Bekoe   Asante Kotoko 10
2009   Abdelmalek Ziaya   ES Sétif 15
2010   Ahmed Abdel-Ghani   Haras El Hodood 7
2011   Salakiaku Matondo   DC Motema Pembe 6
2012   Rudy Ndey
  Ismaïla Diarra
  Edward Sadomba
  AC Léopards
  Cercle Olympique de Bamako
  Al-Hilal
5
2013   Vincent Die Foneye
  Mbwana Samatta
  Sonito
  ENPPI
  TP Mazembe
  Liga Muçulmana
6
2014   Kader Bidimbou
  Kudakwashe Musharu
  Koffi Foba
  AC Léopards
  How Mine
  ASEC Mimosas
6
2015   Baghdad Bounedjah
  Georges Ambourouet
  Thamsanqa Gabuza
  Étoile du Sahel
  CF Mounana
  Orlando Pirates
6
2016   Rainford Kalaba   TP Mazembe 7
2017   Ben Malango   TP Mazembe 6
2018   Mahmoud Benhalib   Raja CA 9
2019   Waleed Al-Shoala   Al-Hilal 7
2020   Karim El Berkaoui   Hassania Agadir 8
2021   Ben Malango   Raja CA 6
2022   Victorien Adebayor   USGN 6
2023   Fiston Kalala Mayele   Young Africans 7

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "CAFOnline.com". CAFOnline.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  2. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "USM Alger clinch first ever continental title with TotalEnergies CAF CC win | Total CAF Confederation Cup". CAFOnline.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  3. ^ "African Club Competitions 2004". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  4. ^ "African Club Competitions 2005". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  5. ^ "African Club Competitions 2006". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  6. ^ "African Club Competitions 2007". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  7. ^ "African Club Competitions 2008". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  8. ^ "African Club Competitions 2009". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  9. ^ "African Club Competitions 2010". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  10. ^ "African Club Competitions 2011". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
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  12. ^ "African Club Competitions 2013". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  13. ^ "African Club Competitions 2014". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  14. ^ "African Club Competitions 2015". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
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  16. ^ "African Club Competitions 2017". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Raja Casablanca win 2018 Confed Cup". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Confederation Cup final: Zamalek defeat Berkane 5-3 on penalties | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  19. ^ Staff writer. "Morocco's RS Berkane Wins CAF Confederation Cup". Morocco world news. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  20. ^ "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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  22. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "USM Alger clinch first ever continental title with TotalEnergies CAF CC win | Total CAF Confederation Cup". CAFOnline.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Regulations of the Confederation Cup 2006 - 2008" (PDF). CAF. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  24. ^ "CAF signs sponsorship deal". BBC News. 21 October 2004. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Orange signs deal to sponsor African soccer competitions". Reuters. 28 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ "Orange signs new eight-year partnership with CAF". CAF. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ "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.
  32. ^ "TikTok signs one-year CAF sponsorship deal". Soccerex. 6 January 2022. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  33. ^ "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.
  34. ^ "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.
  35. ^ Thakur, Soumik (6 January 2022). "Umbro pens down sponsorship deal with CAF". SportsMint Media. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  36. ^ "CAF Executive Committee decisions". CAFOnline.com. 16 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  37. ^ "Prize money for CAF competitions effective 2017". CAFOnline.com. 9 November 2016. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  38. ^ 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.
  39. ^ "CAF appoints Broadcast Services partners for 2022-2023" (Press release). CAF. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  40. ^ "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.
  41. ^ "Supersport and SABC share coverage of Caf Champions League final in late deal". Sportcal. GlobalData. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.[permanent dead link]

External links edit