2009 CAF Champions League

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:

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

Main article: 2009 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds

The preliminary round first legs were played on 30 January – 1 February, and the second legs on 13–15 February 2009.

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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.

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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.

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• The losing teams from the second round advance to the CAF Confederation Cup 2009

Group stage

Main article: 2009 CAF Champions League 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.

Group A

Group B

Knockout stage

Main article: 2009 CAF Champions League knockout stage

Bracket

| RD1-team1=NGR Heartland | RD1-score1-1=4 | RD1-score1-2=1 | RD1-score1-A=5 | RD1-team2=NGR Kano Pillars | RD1-score2-1=0 | RD1-score2-2=0 | RD1-score2-A=0

| RD1-team3= SUD Al-Hilal | RD1-score3-1=2 | RD1-score3-2=2 | RD1-score3-A=4 | RD1-team4= COD TP Mazembe | RD1-score4-1=5 | RD1-score4-2=0 | RD1-score4-A=5

| RD2-team1=NGR Heartland | RD2-score1-1=2 | RD2-score1-2=0 | RD2-score1-A=2 | RD2-team2=COD TP Mazembe (a) | RD2-score2-1=1 | RD2-score2-2=1 | RD2-score2-A=2

Semifinals

The first legs were scheduled for 4 October and the second legs for 17–18 October. |}

Final

Main article: 2009 CAF Champions League Final

• Osanga

• Agba

• Mputu

• Omodiagbe

2–2 on aggregate. TP Mazembe won on the away goals rule.

Top goalscorers

Notes

• List of players and teams (1/16th finals): Champions League

References

References

1. (31 October 2008). "No Champions League for Zamalek?". MTN.
2. (19 September 2009). "2009 Champions League statistics". BBC News.
3. "Centrafrique: Engagement aux comp titions Inter-Clubs 2009 - Ligue des Champions 2009 - CAF".
4. (7 May 2009). "Champs draw pits Sudanese together". BBC News.
5. [http://www.cafonline.com/football/news/2693-criteria-for-the-draws-for-cafs-club-competitions.html Criteria for the Draws for CAF’s Club competitions]
6. "PR CL cafonline".
7. "CL Draw".