CAF Confederation Cup

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 (2004)
RegionAfrica
Number of teams
  • 16 (group stage)
  • 59 (total)
Qualifier forCAF Super Cup
Related competitionsCAF Champions League
Current championsMorocco RS Berkane (2nd title)
Most successful club(s)Tunisia CS Sfaxien (3 titles)
Websitecafonline.com/confederation-cup
2022–23 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 from each having won the title. The competition has been won by 13 clubs, 5 of which have won it more than once. CS Sfaxien is the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the tournament a record 3 times. RS Berkane are the current defending champions, having beaten Orlando Pirates by penalties in the 2022 Final.[2]

History
Winners
CAF Cup / CAF Confederation Cup
SeasonCAF Cup
2004Ghana Hearts of Oak
2005Morocco ASFAR
2006Tunisia Étoile du Sahel
2007Tunisia CS Sfaxien
2008Tunisia CS Sfaxien (2)
2009Mali Stade Malien
2010Morocco FUS de Rabat
2011Morocco MAS Fez
2012Republic of the Congo AC Léopards
2013Tunisia CS Sfaxien (3)
2014Egypt Al Ahly
2015Tunisia Étoile du Sahel (2)
2016Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe
2017Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe (2)
2018Morocco Raja CA
2019Egypt Zamalek SC
2020Morocco RS Berkane
2021Morocco Raja CA (2)
2022Morocco RS Berkane (2)

2004–2017: Beginnings, Tunisian dominance

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 been considered the second 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 ES Sahel won the cup against Moroccan AS FAR (thanks to the away goals rule).[5]

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).[6] The following season, CS Sfaxien again won the cup against another Tunisian club, ES 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 CS 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 SC obtained its first confederation cup by beating the Ivorian club Séwé FC.[13] In 2015, ES 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

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]

Qualification

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

The competition is played into two phases; the qualification phase and the main phase.[22]

Qualification phase

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. The sixteen teams eliminated from the first qualifying round of the CAF Champions League enter the second qualifying round of this competition, unless they are eliminated from there as well.

Main phase
  • 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

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

Sponsorship

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.[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 SponsorOfficial SponsorsFormer SponsorBall Supplier

Prizes

Trophy and medals
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

CAF increased the prize money to be shared between the top 16 clubs.[35][36]

Final
position		Prize money
WinnerUS$1.25 million
Runner-upUS$625,000
Semi-finalistsUS$450,000
Quarter-finalistsUS$350,000
3rd in group stageUS$275,000
4th in group stageUS$275,000

Note: National Associations receive an additional equivalent share of 5% for each amount awarded to clubs.

2022-2023

CAF increased the prize money to be shared between the top 8 clubs

Final
position		Prize money
WinnerUS$2.000.000
Runner-upUS$800,000
Semi-finalistsUS$500,000

Broadcast coverage

Below are the current broadcast rights holders of this competition:[37]

Country/Region Channels
 ASEAN beIN Sports
 Benin ORTB
 Europe Sportfive
 France beIN Sports
 Burkina Faso RTB
Latin America ESPN
 Ghana
Arab League MENA beIN Sports
 South Africa
[39]
Western Balkans Sport Klub
 United States beIN Sports
Sub-Saharan Africa
East Africa

Records and statistics
Main article: CAF Confederation Cup records and statistics

Performance by clubs
Main article: List of CAF Confederation Cup finals
Performance in the CAF Confederation Cup by club
Club		 Titles Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runners-up
Tunisia CS Sfaxien 3 1 2007, 2008, 2013 2010
Tunisia Étoile du Sahel 2 1 2006, 2015 2008
Morocco RS Berkane 2 1 2020, 2022 2019
Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe 2 1 2016, 2017 2013
Morocco Raja Casablanca 2 0 2018, 2021
Morocco FAR Rabat 1 1 2005 2006
Ghana Hearts of Oak 1 0 2004
Mali Stade Malien 1 0 2009
Morocco FUS Rabat 1 0 2010
Morocco MAS Fez 1 0 2011
Republic of the Congo AC Léopards 1 0 2012
Egypt Al Ahly 1 0 2014
Egypt Zamalek 1 0 2019
South Africa Orlando Pirates 0 2 2015, 2022
Ghana Asante Kotoko 0 1 2004
Nigeria Dolphins FC 0 1 2005
Sudan Al-Merrikh 0 1 2007
Algeria ES Sétif 0 1 2009
Tunisia Club Africain 0 1 2011
Mali Djoliba AC 0 1 2012
Ivory Coast Séwé Sport 0 1 2014
Algeria MO Béjaïa 0 1 2016
South Africa SuperSport United 0 1 2017
Democratic Republic of the Congo AS Vita Club 0 1 2018
Egypt Pyramids 0 1 2020
Algeria JS Kabylie 0 1 2021

Performance by nations
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
 Ghana 1 1 2
 Mali 1 1 2
 Congo 1 0 1
 Algeria 0 3 3
 South Africa 0 3 3
 Ivory Coast 0 1 1
 Nigeria 0 1 1
 Sudan 0 1 1
 Tanzania 0 0 1

Champions by region
Federation (Region) Champion(s) Number
UNAF (North Africa) CS Sfaxien (3), ES Sahel (2), Raja CA (2), RS Berkane (2), Al Ahly (1), FAR Rabat (1), FUS Rabat (1), MAS Fez (1), Zamalek (1) 14 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

All-time top scorers
Rank Nat Name Club Goals Apps
1 Egypt Ahmed Abdel-Ghani Haras El Hodoud SC 2122
2 Algeria Abdelmalek Ziaya ES Sétif
USM Alger		 1712
Morocco Mouhcine Iajour RS Berkane
Raja CA		 1734
4 Egypt Ahmed Eid Abdel Malek Haras El Hodoud SC 1630
5 Morocco Mahmoud Benhalib Raja CA 1530
Egypt Ahmed Raouf ENPPI SC
Al Masry SC
Smouha SC		 1538
7 Democratic Republic of the Congo Trésor Mputu Mazembe 1419
Morocco Mohamed Aziz RS Berkane 1451
Egypt Abdallah El Said Al Ahly SC
Ismaily SC
Pyramids FC		 1471
10 Zambia Rainford Kalaba Mazembe 1326
Nigeria Kelechi Osunwa Dolphin F.C. (Nigeria)
Al-Merrikh SC
Al-Ahly Shendi		 13
Tunisia Firas Chaouat CS Sfaxien 1339
Tunisia Hamza Younés CS Sfaxien 13
Democratic Republic of the Congo Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele AS Vita Club 1321
15 Democratic Republic of the Congo Ben Malango Mazembe
Raja CA		 1225
Egypt Ahmed Hassan Mekky Haras El Hodoud SC
Smouha SC
Zamalek SC		 1247
Ghana Eric Bekoe Petrojet SC
Asante Kotoko S.C.
Heart of Lions F.C.		 12
Togo Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba RS Berkane 1228
Sudan Faisal Agab Al-Merrikh SC 12
Nigeria Endurance Idahor Dolphin F.C. (Nigeria)
Al-Merrikh SC		 12
20 Nigeria Godwin Aguda Rangers International F.C.
Rivers United F.C.		 1118
Egypt Islam Issa Haras El Hodoud SC
Pyramids FC		 1150
Algeria Baghdad Bounedjah Étoile Sportive du Sahel 1113
Nigeria Emeka Opara Étoile Sportive du Sahel 11
Ghana Eric Gawu King Faisal Babes F.C. 11
25 Niger Kamilou Daouda Coton Sport FC de Garoua
CS Sfaxien
Al-Ittihad Club (Tripoli)		 1024
Nigeria John Antwi Ismaily SC
Misr Lel Makkasa SC
Pyramids FC
Al Ahly SC		 1031
Morocco Abdessamad Rafik Wydad AC
Olympic Club de Safi
Ittihad Tanger
Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi		 10
Tunisia Alaeddine Marzouki CS Sfaxien 1025
New Zealand Jeremy Brockie SuperSport United F.C.
Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.		 1017

See also

References
  1. Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "CAFOnline.com". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  2. Kiyonga, Ismael (21 May 2022). "RS Berkane beat Orlando Pirates to lift second Caf Confederation Cup title". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  3. "African Club Competitions 2004". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  4. "African Club Competitions 2005". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  5. "African Club Competitions 2006". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  6. "African Club Competitions 2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  7. "African Club Competitions 2008". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  8. "African Club Competitions 2009". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  9. "African Club Competitions 2010". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  10. "African Club Competitions 2011". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  11. "African Club Competitions 2012". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  12. "African Club Competitions 2013". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  13. "African Club Competitions 2014". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  14. "African Club Competitions 2015". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  15. "African Club Competitions 2016". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  16. "African Club Competitions 2017". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  17. "Raja Casablanca win 2018 Confed Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  18. "Confederation Cup final: Zamalek defeat Berkane 5-3 on penalties | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  19. Staff writer. "Morocco's RS Berkane Wins CAF Confederation Cup". Morocco world news. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  20. "Raja Casablanca v Kabylie Match Report, 10/07/2021, CAF Confederation Cup | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  21. "RS Berkane win shoot-out to lift Confederation Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  22. "Regulations of the Confederation Cup 2006 - 2008" (PDF). CAF. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  23. "CAF signs sponsorship deal". BBC News. 21 October 2004. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  24. "Orange signs deal to sponsor African soccer competitions". Reuters. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  25. "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.
  26. "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.
  27. "Orange signs new eight-year partnership with CAF". CAF. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  28. "1xBet - Official sponsor of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) tournaments". CAFOnline.com. 6 February 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  29. Glendinning, Matthew (6 January 2022). "TikTok signs one-year CAF sponsorship, Umbro inks technical deal". SportBusiness. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  30. "TikTok unites African football fans through partnership with Confederation of African Football". TikTok Newsroom. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  31. "TikTok signs one-year CAF sponsorship deal". Soccerex. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  32. "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.
  33. "BUILDING AFRICAN FOOTBALL TOGETHER: UMBRO AND CAF ENTER INTO MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP". CAFOnline.com. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  34. Thakur, Soumik (6 January 2022). "Umbro pens down sponsorship deal with CAF". SportsMint Media. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  35. "CAF Executive Committee decisions". CAFOnline.com. 16 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  36. "Prize money for CAF competitions effective 2017". CAFOnline.com. 9 November 2016. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  37. "CAF appoints Broadcast Services partners for 2022-2023" (Press release). CAF. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  38. "StarTimes acquires broadcast rights of CAF Inter-Club competitions". Graphic Online. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  39. "Supersport and SABC share coverage of Caf Champions League final in late deal". Sportcal. GlobalData. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
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