CAF: the different scenarios to complete the African club cups

Zamalek's player Mahmoud Alaa. REUTERS / Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

The African Football Confederation (CAF) plans to complete the semi-finals and finals of African club cups (Champions League and Confederation Cup) 2019-2020 in August or September. CAF is also working on different scenarios to finish the 2020-2021 editions on time.

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The African Football Confederation (CAF) still hopes to be able to resume its competitions this summer, and this after several months of stoppage linked to the coronavirus. At least that is what a working document suggests that RFI was able to consult.

This one evokes the different ways to complete the Champions League (C1) and the Confederation Cup (C2) 2019-2020. It also deals with possible scenarios for the following editions (2020-2021) to be completed on time.

End of African club cups in August or September ?

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, CAF had to postpone sine die the semi-finals and finals of the Champions League and Confederation Cup which were scheduled for May 2020. Two programs are being studied to remedy this .

In the first, the semi-finals Raja Casablanca-Zamalek and Wydad Casablanca-Al Ahly in C1, as well as Pyramids FC-Horoya and RS Berkane-Hassania Agadir in C2, would take place from July 31 to August 2 (first legs), then August 7-9 (return match). In this case, the Champions League final would be held on August 28 and the Confederation Cup final on 23.

Another possibility: the first semi-finals will take place from September 4 to 6, the return semi-finals from September 11 to 13, while the Confederation Cup final will be played on September 23 and the Champions League final on September 25 .

Three scenarios to complete the following editions in May 2021

Whatever the option chosen, CAF stresses that it will obviously be impossible to start the following editions (2020-2021) in August, as is usual (a kick-off in October seems much more realistic). His administration therefore proposes several solutions to complete the two competitions in May 2021, while recalling that "  the late start of the season, CAN 2021 and CAN U20 2021 contested in January and February respectively, will affect the interclub calendar  " .

First idea, remove the framing round of the Confederation Cup, which pits the teams having crossed the first round to those which were eliminated in the first round of the Champions League. "  However, this may weaken the Confederation Cup,  " said the document. The teams transferred from C1 to C2 are in fact supposed to raise the level of the latter.

Second possibility, delete the quarter-finals of the two competitions. The group stages would certainly be maintained. But only the first in each of the four groups of four would qualify. They would go straight to the semi-finals.

Third possibility - largely inspired by what is practiced in other collective sports - a "final oven" would be organized in one and the same country. Here, no round trip matches. Just semi-finals and a final on neutral ground.

Finals during Euro 2021 ?

Finally, if CAF decides to compete in spite of all its 2020-2021 club competitions in the same format as usual, it will probably be necessary to organize the finals in June at the earliest.

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  • Soccer
  • CAF Champions League
  • Confederation Cup
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  • Coronavirus