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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 2024–25 CAF club season

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

Association ranking for the 2025–26 CAF club season

The association ranking for the 2025–26 CAF Champions League and the 2025–26 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2020–21 to the 2024–25 season.

Legend
  • CL: CAF Champions League
  • CC: CAF Confederation Cup
  • : Associations points might increase on basis of its clubs performance in 2024–25 CAF club competitions
  •   Associations ranked 1–12 are eligible to enter two teams in each CAF club competition.
RankAssociation2020–21
(× 1)
2021–22
(× 2)
2022–23
(× 3)
2023–24
(× 4)
2024–25
(× 5)
Total
20252024MvtCLCCCLCCCLCCCLCCCLCC
11  Egypt837482.57700120.5
22  Morocco469582240092
33  Algeria657165230080
44  South Africa82544341.50071
55  Tunisia435142610065
66  Tanzania30.50234600052.5
77  DR Congo400312400035
78 +1  Angola10502031.50035
99  Sudan203030200025
1010  Libya00.50500.5030024
1111  Ivory Coast000103300023
1212  Nigeria020002020016
1214 +2  Ghana000000130016
1413 -1  Guinea20102000.50012
1515  Mali000001020011
1617 +1  Mauritania00000020008
1716 -1  Cameroon0300.51000007
1718 +1  Congo00010100.5007
1919  Botswana00100010006
2021 +1  Senegal12000000003
2022 +2  Togo00000100003
2022 +2  Uganda00001000003
2320 -3  Zambia01.500.50000002.5
2424  Eswatini0000.50000001
2424  Niger0000.50000001
2626  Burkina Faso00.5000000000.5

Club ranking for the 2024–25 CAF club season

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

Club ranking for the 2025–26 CAF club season

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 2025–26 CAF Champions League and the 2025–26 CAF Confederation Cup is be based on results from each CAF club competition from the 2020–21 to the 2024–25 seasons.

RankClub2020–21
(× 1)
2021–22
(× 2)
2022–23
(× 3)
2023–24
(× 4)
2024–25
(× 5)
Total
1 Al Ahly6566058
2 Espérance de Tunis4345042
3 Wydad AC4652039
4 Mamelodi Sundowns3344037
5 Zamalek2225032
6 Simba3233028
7 RS Berkane1504027
8 Petro de Luanda1423027
8 USM Alger0053027
10 CR Belouizdad3332026
11 TP Mazembe230.54025.5
12 Young Africans S.C.0043024
13 ASEC Mimosas0133023
14 Raja CA5330020
15 Al-Hilal1122017
16 Pyramids3221017
17 Rivers United0022014
18 JS Kabylie4030013
19 Dreams FC0003012
20 Horoya2120010
20 Orlando Pirates2400010
22 Future000.5209.5
23 Étoile du Sahel120109
24 ES Sétif140009
24 Marumo Gallants003009
26 FC Nouadhibou000208.5
27 Abu Salim000208
27 Stade Malien000208
29 Coton Sport30.51007
30 Jwaneng Galaxy010106
30 Sagrada Esperança010106
32 Al-Merrikh111006
32 Al-Ahli Tripoli030006
32 ASFAR Rabat002006
32 US Monastir002006
36 Diables Noirs0010.505
37 AS Vita Club201005
37 Kaizer Chiefs500005
39 Medeama000104
39 Club Africain000104
39 Sekhukhune United000104
39 Al Hilal Benghazi000104
43 Al-Masry020004
43 CS Sfaxien210004
43 Al Ittihad020004
43 AmaZulu020004
47 MC Alger300003
47 Saint-Éloi Lupopo001003
47 Real Bamako001003
47 ASKO Kara001003
47 Vipers001003
52 DC Motema Pembe000.5002.5
53 Académica do Lobito0000.502
53 Académie SOAR0000.502
53 SuperSport United0000.502
56 ASC Jaraaf200002
56 Enyimba200002
56 JS Saoura010002
56 AS Otôho010002
60 Al Akhdar000.5001.5
61 Zanaco00.50001
61 Nkana100001
61 Teungueth100001
61 USGN00.50001
61 Royal Leopards00.50001
66 Salitas0.500000.5
66 Al Ahly Benghazi0.500000.5
66 Namungo0.500000.5
66 NAPSA Stars0.500000.5
Legend
  • : Clubs points might increase on basis of its performance in 2024–25 CAF club competitions

Historical rankings since 2011

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

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

References