CAF outlines qualification conditions for Champions League and Confederation Cup
The Confederation of African Football CAF announced the agenda of its competitions for the 2020/2021 season as well as the dates of matchdays.
CAF have determined four scenarios relating to qualification for both the African Champions League and Confederation Cup due to the exceptional season most African countries have had, as many associations had to call off the rest of the season due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The scenarios are as follows:
-Member associations who completed 2019/2020 are entitled to be represented by the teams qualified from national competitions for 2019/2020 season, in compliance with conditions of participation mentioned in subjects 2-3, chapter four of the regulations.
-Member associations who cancelled 2019-2020 season are entitled to be represented by the same teams qualified for 2019-2020 competitions, taking into consideration the number of seats allocated to them according to the ranking of the association.
-Member associations who haven't completed 2019-2020 season yet and were unable to cancel it, will have to choose one of the two options mentioned above to determine their representatives, with the matter subject to CAF approval.
CAF has also announced the 12 associations with the highest ranks will be entitled to have two teams participating in each competition:
Morocco: 180 pts.
Egypt: 147 pts.
Tunisia: 140 pts.
Democratic Republic of Congo: 83 pts.
Algeria: 81 pts.
South Africa: 68.5 pts.
Zambia: 43 pts.
Nigeria: 39 pts.
Guinea: 38 pts.
Angola: 36 pts.
Sudan: 29.5 pts.
Libya: 16.5 pts.
The first leg of the preliminary rounds of the competitions is scheduled to be played between 20-22 November while the second leg will be played between 27-29 November.
The group stage draw is initially set to be held on 17 January 2021 while quarter-final draw is scheduled for 30 April 2021.
First-round matches of the Champions League group stage will be held on 12-13 February, the second round on 23-24 February, the third round on 5-6 March, the fourth round on 16-17 March, the fifth round on 2-3-4 April, and the sixth round on 10-11 April.
As for the confederation cup, the first round of the group stage is scheduled for 10 March, the second round on 16-17 March, the third round on 2-3-4 April, the fourth round on 9-10-11 April, the fifth round on 21 April, and finally the sixth on 28 April.
CAF has also set the Champions league final date to be 17 July 2021, while the final game of the confederation cup will be played on 10 July 2021.