2012 CAF Champions League

Association team allocation

Theoretically, up to 55 CAF member associations may enter the 2012 CAF Champions League, with the 12 highest ranked associations according to CAF 5-year ranking eligible to enter 2 teams in the competition. For this year's competition, CAF used 2006-10 5-Year ranking. As a result, a maximum of 67 teams could enter the tournament – although this level has never been reached.

Ranking system

Main article: CAF 5-year ranking

CAF calculates points for each entrant association based on their clubs’ performance over the last 5 years in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, not taking into consideration the running year. The criteria for points are the following:

The points are multiplied by a coefficient according to the year as follow:

• 2010 – 5
• 2009 – 4
• 2008 – 3
• 2007 – 2
• 2006 – 1

Entrants list

Below is the entrants list for the competition. Nations are shown according to their 2006–2010 CAF 5-year ranking – those with a ranking score have their rank and score indicated. Teams were also seeded using their individual 2007–2011 5-Year team Ranking. The top thirteen sides (shown in bold) received byes to the first qualifying round.

;Notes

• Associations that did not enter a team: Libya (seeded 10th with 16 ranking points and entitled to two entrants), Botswana, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Réunion, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Somalia, Togo
• † According to the formula for calculating the CAF 5-year ranking, Angola, Ivory Coast and Zambia are tied 12th place with 13 ranking points. As stated in local media reports, Ivory Coast have two entrants, while Angola and Zambia have one entrant.
• Unranked associations have no ranking points and hence are equal 19th.
• Unranked teams have no rankings points and hence are equal 18th. Club ranking is determined only between teams qualified for the 2012 CAF Champions League.

Round and draw dates

Schedule of dates for 2012 competition.

† Moved from original date of 9–11 November.

Qualifying rounds

Main article: 2012 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds

The fixtures for the preliminary, first and second qualifying rounds were announced on 9 December 2011.

Qualification ties were decided over two legs, with aggregate goals used to determine the winner. If the sides were level on aggregate after the second leg, the away goals rule was applied, and if still level, the tie proceeded directly to a penalty shootout (no extra time was played).

Preliminary round

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First round

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• Note 1: Djoliba advanced to the second round after being awarded the tie by CAF, as URA did not travel to Mali for the second leg due to the Malian crisis.

Second round

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The losing teams from the second round advanced to the 2012 CAF Confederation Cup play-off round.

Group stage

Main article: 2012 CAF Champions League group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 15 May 2012. The eight teams were seeded into four pots (using their individual 2007–2011 5-Year team Ranking). Each group contained one team from each pot. The matchdays were 6–8 July, 20–22 July, 3–5 August, 17–19 August, 31 August–2 September, and 14–16 September.

Group A

Group B

Knock-out stage

Main article: 2012 CAF Champions League knock-out stage

Bracket

| RD1-team1=NGR Sunshine Stars | RD1-score1-1=3 | RD1-score1-2=0 | RD1-score1-A=3 | RD1-team2=EGY Al Ahly | RD1-score2-1=3 | RD1-score2-2=1 | RD1-score2-A=4

| RD1-team3= COD TP Mazembe | RD1-score3-1=0 | RD1-score3-2=0 | RD1-score3-A=0 | RD1-team4= TUN Espérance ST | RD1-score4-1=0 | RD1-score4-2=1 | RD1-score4-A=1

| RD2-team1=EGY Al Ahly | RD2-score1-1=1 | RD2-score1-2=2 | RD2-score1-A=3 | RD2-team2=TUN Espérance ST | RD2-score2-1=1 | RD2-score2-2=1 | RD2-score2-A=2

Semifinals

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Final

Main article: 2012 CAF Champions League Final

Soliman

Top scorers

References

References

1. (9 June 2011). "CAF disowns club ranking published by some websites". Cafonline.com.
2. (24 November 2011). "Super division 2011 (10e journée) / Asec-AFAD 1-2 : Les Académiciens en Ligue des Champions". Le Patriote (Abidjan).
3. (28 July 2011). "CAF diminui participação angolana nas afrotaças". Agência AngolaPress.
4. (6 November 2011). "Nkwazi Demoted, Arrows Finish Second". Lusaka Times.
5. (30 June 2011). "Dates fixed for Inter-clubs Competitions 2012". Confédération Africaine de Football.
6. (7 May 2012). "CAF Meetings and Inter-Clubs Competitions draw set for May 15th 2012". Cafonline.com.
7. (4 October 2012). "Champions League 2nd leg final date moved.". Confédération Africaine de Football.
8. (9 December 2011). "Fixtures of the preliminary round - 16th CL 2012". Confédération Africaine de Football.
9. "Regulations of the CAF Champions League". Confédération Africaine de Football.
10. (15 May 2012). "CAF interclubs final draw result". Confédération Africaine de Football.
11. (15 May 2012). "Orange Champions League and Orange Confederation Cup club ranking". Confédération Africaine de Football.
12. (15 May 2012). "Orange Champions League Draw procedure". Confédération Africaine de Football.
13. (15 May 2012). "Orange Champions League fixtures". Confédération Africaine de Football.