CAF 5-year ranking

The CAF 5-year ranking system is used by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to determine the number of clubs that each member association may enter its club football competitions; the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. At present, those associations ranked in the top 12 may enter two teams into each of the two club competitions, while the remaining associations are limited to a single team in each competition.

Origins edit

Prior to 2004, CAF organized 3 club competiitons; the CAF Champions League, the African Cup Winners' Cup and the CAF Cup with each association allowed to enter a single team in each of those. The Cup Winners' Cup and the CAF Cup merged to create the CAF Confederation Cup in 2004. Rather than limiting all associations to just two positions in CAF club competitions, CAF decided to allow the leading nations two entries into the then-new tournament while also allowing them an additional entry in the Champions League.

As with the UEFA rankings used for their club competitions, the CAF rankings are based on obtained results in each of the past 5 completed club seasons. There are some differences, notably:

  • More tournaments are included; the CAF Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup also allow teams to obtain ranking points.
  • The annual results are not averaged by the number of entrants an association has, so highly ranked associations have a greater ability to obtain points.
  • The ranking points are not awarded for the results of individual matches, but rather for the final level of advancement such as winners or group-stage positions.
  • Only teams that advance to the quarter-final knockout stage in each club competition can obtain ranking points.

2004 season edit

For the 2004 season, the rankings were made according to the performance of the associations in the previous 5 years from 1998 to 2002 in the CAF club competitions. These selected associations were as follows:

2005 season controversy edit

In July 2004, CAF informed its members that the ranking system for admission to their competitions for the 2005 season would be done according to the same 1998–2002 ranking used for the 2004 season. It is unknown why CAF did not calculate a 1999–2003 ranking (following UEFA's practice of updating its rankings each season), as there would seem to have been enough time to do this.[1] Since then, it has become CAF's policy to adopt a year older ranking for the competitions of the new season; thus in 2012, rankings were based on results from 2006 to 2010.

2011 season change edit

In December 2010, CAF altered the ranking system, removing the components from the CAF Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, and weighting more recent results more highly. For the 2011 edition of the club competitions, results between the 2005 and 2009 season were still in use, but the points from 2009 were multiplied by 5, 2008 by 4 and it continues in that manner.[2][3]

2017 season expansion edit

On 30 May 2016, CAF expanded the group stage team participation in its club competitions from 8 to 16, including a quarter-final knockout stage in the process.[4][5] CAF announced the ranking system based on the new format on 20 March 2018.[6]

2019–20 season change edit

On 4 June 2019, CAF announced an updated ranking for the 2019–20 season, which was to be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2015 to the first ever cross-year season of 2018–19, with Tanzania replacing Ivory Coast in the top 12.[7][8]

Criteria for awarding points edit

CAF approved its basic criteria based on the criteria used in the election of the CAF Clubs of the 20th Century in 2000 for awarding points in 2003. This was changed in 2005 with the addition of a criterion that rewards clubs that advance to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.[9] This methodology has also been used to create an all-time ranking for CAF clubs, adding the points that would have been obtained by each club based on its results since 1965.

For the rankings system, only results since 1998 have been counted with the CAF Super Cup and the FIFA World Cup Club excluded from the system since 2011. The table below shows the years during which the competitions were operated:[10]

Competition6 Points5 Points4 Points3 Points2 Points1 Point0.5 Point
Competitions used in current rankings[6]
CAF Champions LeagueChampionsRunners-upSemi-finalistQuarter-finalist
(from 2017)
3rd in Group Stage4th in Group Stage
CAF Confederation CupChampionsRunners-upSemi-finalistQuarter-finalist
(from 2017)
3rd in Group Stage4th in Group Stage
Competitions used in previous rankings
CAF Champions League
2000–2016
ChampionsRunners-upSemi-finalist3rd in Group Stage4th in Group Stage
CAF Confederation Cup
2004–2016
ChampionsRunners-upSemi-finalist3rd in Group Stage
4th in Group Stage
CAF Super Cup
1992–2010
Champions
FIFA Club World Cup
2005–2010
ChampionsRunners-up
3rd Place
4th Place

Weighting factor edit

Since 2011, points have been weighted according to the year of performance results when calculating the rankings. For the current ranking, the points calculated based on performances in CAF club competitions between 2019-20 and the 2023–24 season, the points are multiplied by a coefficient according to the year as follows:[11]

  • 2023–24 – 5
  • 2022–23 – 4
  • 2021–22 – 3
  • 2020–21 – 2
  • 2019–20 – 1

Association ranking for the 2023–24 CAF club season edit

The association rankings for the 2023–24 CAF Champions League and the 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup were based on results from each CAF club competition from 2018–19 to the 2022–23 seasons. The standings below are as of 13 June 2023.

Legend
  • CL: CAF Champions League
  • CC: CAF Confederation Cup
  •   Associations ranked 1–12 are eligible to enter two teams in each CAF club competition.
RankAssociation2018–19
(× 1)
2019–20
(× 2)
2020–21
(× 3)
2021–22
(× 4)
2022–23
(× 5)
Total
20232022MvtCLCCCLCCCLCCCLCCCLCC
11  Morocco5788469582180
22  Egypt45116837482.5172.5
33  Algeria5131657165134
45 +1  South Africa6030.5825443114
54 -1  Tunisia8660435142101
611 +5  Tanzania300030.5023456.5
76 -1  DR Congo504140031254
87 -1  Angola00.54010502041.5
98 -1  Sudan022020303039
1010  Guinea300320102029
119 -2  Libya000200.50500.528
1212  Nigeria210302000225
1316 +3  Ivory Coast1000.500010321
1414  Cameroon00000300.51016
1513 -2  Zambia02.51201.500.50015
1617 +1  Congo00.5000001019.5
1715 -2  Senegal00001200009
1821 +3  Mali00010000017
1930 +11  Togo00000000015
1926 +7  Uganda00000000105
2118 -3  Botswana00000010004
2219 -3  Zimbabwe10100000003
2319 -4  Kenya02000000002
2321 -2  Eswatini00000000.5002
2323  Burkina Faso00.50000.500002
2324 +1  Niger00000000.5002
2724 -3  Ghana01000000001
2727  Mauritania0000.50000001
2727  Benin0000.50000001

Association ranking for the 2024–25 CAF club season edit

The association ranking for the 2024–25 CAF Champions League and the 2024–25 CAF Confederation Cup is be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2019–20 to the 2023–24 season.

Legend
  • CL: CAF Champions League
  • CC: CAF Confederation Cup
  • : Associations points might increase on basis of its clubs performance in 2023–24 CAF club competitions
  •   Associations ranked 1–12 are eligible to enter two teams in each CAF club competition.
RankAssociation2019–20
(× 1)
2020–21
(× 2)
2021–22
(× 3)
2022–23
(× 4)
2023–24
(× 5)
Total
20242023MvtCLCCCLCCCLCCCLCCCLCC
12 +1  Egypt116837482.577184
21 -1  Morocco8846958224148
33  Algeria3165716523119
44  South Africa30.582544341.5106
55  Tunisia604351426197
66  Tanzania0030.502346071
77  DR Congo414003124054
88  Angola4010502031.551.5
99  Sudan202030302037
1011 +1  Libya0200.50500.50335
1113 +2  Ivory Coast00.50001033030.5
1212  Nigeria030200020225
1310 -3  Guinea0320102000.520.5
1427 +13  Ghana000000001320
1518 +3  Mali010000010215
1614 -2  Cameroon000300.5100011.5
1727 +10  Mauritania00.50000002010.5
1816 -2  Congo0000010100.59.5
1921 +2  Botswana00001000108
2015 -5  Zambia1201.500.500007.5
2117 -4  Senegal00120000006
2219 -3  Togo00000001004
2219 -3  Uganda00000010004
2423 -1  Eswatini000000.500001.5
2423 -1  Niger000000.500001.5
2622 -4  Zimbabwe10000000001
2623 -3  Burkina Faso0000.50000001
2827 -1  Benin00.5000000000.5


Club ranking for the 2023–24 CAF club season edit

The club ranking was used for seeding in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. Pending equality in ranking points, the team receiving more points in the previous season was considered as the higher-ranked team.[12]

The club ranking for the 2023–24 CAF Champions League and the 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup was based on results from each CAF club competition from the 2018–19 to 2022–23 seasons.

RankClub2018–19
(× 1)
2019–20
(× 2)
2020–21
(× 3)
2021–22
(× 4)
2022–23
(× 5)
Total
1 Al Ahly3665683
2 Wydad AC5446574
3 Espérance de Tunis6343456
4 Mamelodi Sundowns4333451
5 Raja CA1453351
6 Zamalek5522239
7 RS Berkane4515037
8 CR Belouizdad0033336
9 Simba3032335
10 Pyramids0432235
11 Petro de Luanda0.5214233.5
12 JS Kabylie0240331
13 TP Mazembe43230.530.5
14 Horoya3321229
15 USM Alger0100527
16 Orlando Pirates2024024
17 Al-Hilal2211223
18 Young Africans0000420
19 ASEC Mimosas1001320
20 Étoile du Sahel3312020
21 ES Sétif0014019
22 Coton Sport0030.5116
23 Marumo Gallants0000315
24 Kaizer Chiefs0050015
25 AS Vita Club1120114
26 CS Sfaxien3021013
27 Al-Merrikh0011112
28 Al-Ahli Tripoli0003012
29 Al-Masry0202012
30 ASFAR Rabat0000210
30 Rivers United0000210
30 US Monastir0000210
33 Enyimba0220010
34 MC Alger003009
35 Al Ittihad000208
35 AmaZulu000208
37 Hassania Agadir230008
38 JS Saoura200106
39 Zanaco0200.506
40 ASC Jaraaf002006
41 Diables Noirs000015
41 Saint-Éloi Lupopo000015
41 Real Bamako000015
41 ASKO Kara000015
41 Vipers000015
46 Nkana201005
47 DC Motema Pembe01000.54.5
48 AS Otôho0.500104.5
49 Jwaneng Galaxy000104
49 Sagrada Esperança000104
51 1º de Agosto020004
51 Al-Nasr020004
53 Teungueth001003
54 FC Platinum110003
54 Enugu Rangers110003
56 CS Constantine300003
57 Modern Future00000.52.5
57 Al Akhdar00000.52.5
59 ZESCO United0.510002.5
60 USGN0000.502
60 Royal Leopards0000.502
62 Salitas0.500.5002
63 Djoliba010002
63 Paradou AC010002
65 Gor Mahia200002
65 Club Africain200002
65 Lobi Stars200002
68 Al Ahly Benghazi000.5001.5
68 Namungo000.5001.5
68 NAPSA Stars000.5001.5
71 Bidvest Wits00.50001
71 ESAE00.50001
71 FC Nouadhibou00.50001
71 FC San Pédro00.50001
75 Asante Kotoko100001
75 NA Hussein Dey100001
75 Ismaily100001

Club ranking for the 2024–25 CAF club season edit

The club ranking is used for seeding in the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. Pending equality in ranking points, the team receiving more points in the previous season is considered as the higher-ranked team.[12]

The club ranking for the 2024–25 CAF Champions League and the 2024–25 CAF Confederation Cup is be based on results from each CAF club competition from the 2019–20 to the 2023–24 seasons.

RankClub2019–20
(× 1)
2020–21
(× 2)
2021–22
(× 3)
2022–23
(× 4)
2023–24
(× 5)
Total
1 Al Ahly6656687
2 Espérance de Tunis3434561
3 Wydad AC4465260
4 Mamelodi Sundowns3334454
5 Zamalek5222548
6 RS Berkane5150442
7 Simba0323339
8 Petro de Luanda2142339
9 TP Mazembe3230.5438
10 CR Belouizdad0333237
11 USM Alger1005336
12 Raja CA4533035
13 Young Africans S.C.0004331
14 ASEC Mimosas0013330
15 Pyramids4322129
16 Al-Hilal2112225
17 JS Kabylie2403022
18 Rivers United0002218
19 Horoya3212018
20 Étoile du Sahel3120116
21 Orlando Pirates0240016
22 Dreams FC0000315
23 ES Sétif0140014
24 Future0000.5212
25 Marumo Gallants0003012
26 Coton Sport030.51011.5
27 FC Nouadhibou0.5000210.5
28 Abu Salim0000210
28 Stade Malien0000210
30 Kaizer Chiefs0500010
31 Al-Merrikh011109
32 AS Vita Club120109
33 Al-Ahli Tripoli003009
34 Jwaneng Galaxy001018
34 Sagrada Esperança001018
36 ASFAR Rabat000208
36 US Monastir000208
38 Al-Masry202008
39 CS Sfaxien021007
40 Diables Noirs00010.56.5
41 Al Ittihad002006
41 AmaZulu002006
43 MC Alger030006
44 Enyimba220006
45 Medeama000015
46 Club Africain000015
46 Sekhukhune United000015
48 Al Hilal Benghazi000015
49 Saint-Éloi Lupopo000104
49 Real Bamako000104
49 ASKO Kara000104
49 Vipers000104
53 ASC Jaraaf020004
54 Zanaco200.5003.5
55 DC Motema Pembe1000.503
56 JS Saoura001003
56 AS Otôho001003
58 Hassania Agadir300003
59 Académica do Lobito00000.52.5
59 Académie SOAR00000.52.5
59 SuperSport United00000.52.5
62 Al Akhdar0000.502
62 Nkana010002
62 Teungueth010002
62 1º de Agosto200002
62 Al-Nasr200002
67 USGN000.5001.5
67 Royal Leopards000.5001.5
69 Salitas00.50001
69 Al Ahly Benghazi00.50001
69 Namungo00.50001
69 NAPSA Stars00.50001
69 FC Platinum100001
69 Enugu Rangers100001
69 ZESCO United100001
69 Djoliba100001
69 Paradou AC100001
78 Bidvest Wits0.500000.5
78 ESAE0.500000.5
78 FC San Pédro0.500000.5
Legend
  • : Clubs points might increase on basis of its performance in 2023–24 CAF club competitions

Historical rankings since 2011 edit

Legend
  •   Associations ranked 1–12 and eligible to enter two teams in each CAF club competition.
  • — No rank (0 Points)
AssociationRank (points)
201120122013201420152016201720182018–192019–202020–212021–222022–232023–242024–25
 Egypt2 (83)2 (81)3 (64)2 (70)2 (80)2 (81)2 (80)1 (85)2 (106.5)3 (120.5)2 (167)2 (173.5)2 (176)2 (172.5)1 (184)
 Morocco8 (20)7 (27)4 (62)5 (53)4 (44)7 (29)7 (24)6 (41)4 (84)2 (153)1 (190)1 (183)1 (194)1 (180)2 (148)
 Algeria6 (27)6 (45)7 (43)7 (40)7 (32)4 (44)4 (64)4 (62)5 (82.5)4 (92)5 (81)4 (109)3 (115)3 (134)3 (119)
 South Africa14 (10)16 (5)17 (1)11 (20)12 (16)6 (27)5 (45)6 (78.5)6 (76.5)6 (68.5)5 (93.5)5 (109.5)4 (114)4 (106)
 Tunisia1 (98)1 (97)1 (100)1 (85)1 (106)1 (105)1 (100)2 (76)1 (116)1 (154)3 (140)3 (131)4 (113)5 (101)5 (97)
 Tanzania16 (5)24 (2)12 (18)13 (14)12 (27.5)11 (30.5)6 (56.5)6 (71)
 DR Congo5 (46)3 (60)5 (49)6 (48)3 (46)3 (63)3 (69)3 (70)3 (90)5 (87)4 (83)6 (75)6 (63)7 (54)7 (54)
 Angola11 (18)12 (13)9 (18)10 (18)12 (17)13 (11)13 (7)17 (3)17 (6)11 (21.5)10 (36)10 (31.5)7 (46)8 (41.5)8 (51.5)
 Sudan4 (50)5 (47)6 (47)4 (54)6 (37)5 (33)5 (51)7 (35)7 (53)8 (35)11 (29.5)11 (30)8 (33.5)9 (39)9 (37)
 Libya16 (9)10 (16)12 (11)15 (6)16 (4)14 (7)14 (4)14 (8)9 (19)18 (10)12 (16.5)15 (13.5)9 (33)11 (28)10 (35)
 Ivory Coast7 (22)12 (13)12 (11)15 (6)13 (13)6 (30)9 (23)8 (21)10 (15)13 (15)14 (13.5)16 (9)16 (10.5)13 (21)11 (30.5)
 Nigeria3 (75)4 (58)2 (70)3 (63)5 (41)11 (22)12 (12)12 (13)13 (10.5)9 (32.5)8 (39)8 (37.5)12 (26)12 (25)12 (25)
 Guinea18 (1)18 (5)10 (30)9 (38)7 (38)10 (31)10 (29)13 (20.5)
 Ghana13 (12)15 (6)16 (2)12 (11)14 (8)15 (6)14 (4)15 (7)22 (4)19 (9)20 (6.5)23 (4)24 (2.5)27 (1)14 (20)
 Mali8 (20)8 (21)10 (16)8 (31)7 (32)8 (26)9 (23)11 (15)16 (8)26 (3)20 (6.5)20 (5)21 (3.5)18 (7)15 (15)
 Cameroon10 (19)11 (14)8 (19)11 (12)9 (21)8 (26)11 (19)13 (12)10 (15)26 (3)29 (2)13 (16)14 (14.5)14 (16)16 (11.5)
 Mauritania27 (2.5)27 (2)28 (1.5)27 (1)17 (10.5)
 Congo9 (20)9 (21)8 (26)7 (24)10 (16)15 (10)16 (11.5)18 (8)19 (5.5)17 (8)16 (9.5)18 (9.5)
 Botswana24 (4)25 (3)27 (2)18 (6)21 (4)19 (8)
 Zambia14 (10)12 (13)14 (10)14 (7)16 (4)15 (6)14 (4)9 (18)8 (38)7 (40.5)7 (43)9 (35)13 (24.5)15 (15)20 (7.5)
 Senegal14 (15)15 (12)17 (9)21 (6)
 Togo24 (4)25 (3)27 (2)30 (1)19 (5)22 (4)
 Uganda18 (5)17 (11)18 (8)20 (5)26 (2)19 (5)22 (4)
 Eswatini18 (5)22 (7)23 (5)26 (3)21 (3.5)23 (2)24 (1.5)
 Niger16 (5)15 (4)17 (3)19 (2)18 (1)24 (2.5)23 (2)24 (1.5)
 Zimbabwe12 (17)9 (18)11 (13)13 (8)18 (3)18 (1)18 (5)20 (8)15 (11)17 (8)19 (5)22 (3)26 (1)
 Burkina Faso18 (1)28 (2.5)29 (2)23 (4)23 (3)23 (2)26 (1)
 Benin27 (2.5)27 (2)28 (1.5)27 (1)28 (0.5)
 Kenya14 (14)15 (11)17 (8)19 (5)23 (2)
 Rwanda20 (8)22 (6)23 (4)26 (2)
 Mozambique10 (15)15 (13)17 (9)20 (5)30 (1)
 Ethiopia15 (5)17 (4)17 (3)18 (2)13 (10.5)23 (6)24 (4)27 (2)
 Gabon18 (1)23 (2.5)29 (1.5)31 (1)32 (0.5)
 Equatorial Guinea17 (2)18 (1)

Note: For associations which have the same number of points, they are listed as having the same rank as CAF did not publish any tiebreaking criteria. There was a tie for determining the 12th ranked association on two occasions:

  • In 2012, Ivory Coast received two entries in each tournament, while Angola and Zambia only received one entry in each.
  • In 2013, Ivory Coast received two entries in each tournament, while Libya only received one entry in each.

Club results edit

Club results of the previous 5 seasons and the current season based on the current points system are as follows:[6]

6 points5 points4 points3 points2 points1 point0.5 point
2018–19CL Espérance de Tunis Wydad AC 
CC  Zamalek RS Berkane
2019–20CL Al-Ahly 
CC  RS Berkane Pyramids
2020–21CL Al-Ahly Kaizer Chiefs 
CC  Raja CA JS Kabylie
2021–22CL Wydad AC Al-Ahly 
CC  RS Berkane Orlando Pirates
2022–23CL Al Ahly Wydad AC 
CC  USM Alger Young Africans
2023–24CL Al Ahly Espérance de Tunis 
CC  Zamalek RS Berkane

If a team was disqualified, they will not obtain any ranking points. For example, ES Sétif were disqualified from the 2016 CAF Champions League during the group stage.[13] As a result, they did not obtain a position for that edition and thus were not counted when calculating the ranking for Algeria.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "CAF 5-year ranking". RSSSF. 11 September 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  2. ^ "CAF Club Competitions entry procedures for 2011 released". CAFOnline.com. 12 March 2010. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  3. ^ "CAF disowns club ranking published by some websites". CAFOnline.com. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  4. ^ "16 Clubs for Group Phase of CC and CL effective 2017". CAFOnline.com. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  5. ^ "New adopted format for Club Competitions". CAFOnline.com. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Draw Procedures for Interclubs Group Phase". CAFOnline.com. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Timu 4 za Tanzania kushiriki Mashindano ya CAF 2019/2020" [4 Tanzanian teams to participate in the 2019/2020 CAF Championship]. Tanzania Football Federation (in Swahili). 4 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  8. ^ Paule, Beatrice N'guessan (5 June 2019). "Sport: Pour la saison 2019-2020, le FC San Pedro ne jouera plus la ligue des champions Africaines (Caf), voici les raisons" [Sport: For the 2019-2020 season, FC San Pedro will no longer play the African Champions League (Caf), here are the reasons]. AKODY NEWS (in French). Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  9. ^ "FIFA Ranking Table - African Zone (Dec 2005)". FIFA Ranking Archives. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  10. ^ "Two South African clubs for each Interclub Competition". CAFOnline.com. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Ranking of clubs for 2nd 1/8th Final Draw of CC 2014" (PDF). CAFOnline.com. 31 March 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  12. ^ a b "RS Berkane to group stage, 15 more to follow". CAFOnline.com. 8 January 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Disqualification of ES Sétif". CAFOnline.com. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2018.

External links edit