CAF 5-year ranking

Last updated

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.

Contents

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. [1] 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: [2]

Competition6 Points5 Points4 Points3 Points2 Points1 Point0.5 Point
Competitions used in rankings [3]
CAF Champions League ChampionsRunners-upSemi-finalistQuarter-finalist
(from 2017)
3rd in Group Stage4th in Group Stage
CAF Confederation Cup ChampionsRunners-upSemi-finalistQuarter-finalist
(from 2017)
3rd in Group Stage4th in Group Stage

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: [4]

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
RankAssociation2020–21
(× 1)
2021–22
(× 2)
2022–23
(× 3)
2023–24
(× 4)
2024–25
(× 5)
Total
20252024Mvt CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC
11Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 837482.577104190.5
22Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 4695822455142
34Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 82544341.593131
43RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 6571652355130
56Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 30.50234602482.5
65RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 4351426130.582.5
78Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 10502031.52255
87RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 400312402045
99Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 303030203041
1011Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 000103301238
1110RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 00.50500.5030024
1212Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 020002020121
1315Green-Up-Arrow.svg +2Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 0000010210.518.5
1414Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 000000130016
1513RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 20102000.50012
1619Green-Up-Arrow.svg +3Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 0010001000.58.5
1721Green-Up-Arrow.svg +4Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 12000000018
1817RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 00000020008
1918RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 00010100.5007
2016RedDownArrow.svg -4Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 0300.51000007
2122Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 00000100003
2222Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 00001000003
23-Green-Up-Arrow.svg newFlag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 0000000000.52.5
2420RedDownArrow.svg -4Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 01.500.50000002.5
2524RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 0000.50000001
2524RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 0000.50000001
2726RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 00.5000000000.5

Association ranking for the 2026–27 CAF club season

The association ranking for the 2026–27 CAF Champions League and the 2026–27 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2021–22 to the 2025–26 season with the 2025–26 season currently underway.

Legend
RankAssociation2021–22
(× 1)
2022–23
(× 2)
2023–24
(× 3)
2024–25
(× 4)
2025–26
(× 5)
Total
20262025Mvt CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC
11Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 7482.577104≥2≥1145
22Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 95822455≥2≥1107
34Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 71652355≥2≥1100
43RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 544341.593≥1≥197.5
55Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 02346024≥2≥173
66Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 51426130.5≥1058
77Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Angola.svg  Angola 502031.522≥1043.5
88Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 03124020≥1≥0.536.5
99Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 30302030≥1032
1010Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 010330120≥0.530.5
1113Green-Up-Arrow.svg +2Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 00010210.5≥1≥0.521.5
1212Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 00020201≥1019
1311RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 0500.503000015
1414Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 000013000012
1524Green-Up-Arrow.svg +9Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 00.5000000≥1≥0.58
1619Green-Up-Arrow.svg +3Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 010100.5000≥0.57
1715RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 102000.500006.5
1816RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 10001000.5006
1818Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 00002000006
2017RedDownArrow.svg -3Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 00000001004
21Green-Up-Arrow.svg newFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 00.50000000≥0.52.5
2120RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 00.5100000002.5
2323Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 00000000.5002
2321RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 00010000002
2322RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 00100000002
2625RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 00.5000000000.5
2625RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 00.5000000000.5

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 most recent season is considered as the higher-ranked team. [5]

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 Flag of Egypt.svg Al Ahly 6566478
2 Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns 3344562
3 Flag of Tunisia.svg Espérance de Tunis 4345357
4 Flag of Morocco.svg RS Berkane 1504552
5 Flag of Tanzania.svg Simba 3233448
6 Flag of Egypt.svg Pyramids 3221647
7 Flag of Egypt.svg Zamalek 2225242
8 Flag of Morocco.svg Wydad AC 4652039
9 Flag of Algeria.svg USM Alger 0053237
10 Flag of Algeria.svg CR Belouizdad 3332236
11 Flag of Sudan.svg Al-Hilal 1222334
12 Flag of Tanzania.svg Young Africans 0043234
13 Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg ASEC Mimosas 0133233
14 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg TP Mazembe 230.54130.5
15 Flag of South Africa.svg Orlando Pirates 2400430
16 Flag of Morocco.svg Raja CA 5330230
17 Flag of Angola.svg Petro de Luanda 1423027
18 Flag of Morocco.svg ASFAR Rabat 0020321
19 Flag of Algeria.svg Mouloudia Algiers 3000318
20 Flag of Angola.svg Sagrada Esperança 0101216
21 Flag of Algeria.svg CS Constantine 0000315
Flag of South Africa.svg Stellenbosch 00003
23 Flag of Egypt.svg Al-Masry 0200214
24 Flag of Nigeria.svg Rivers United 0022014
25 Flag of Algeria.svg JS Kabylie 4030013
26 Flag of Ghana.svg Dreams FC 0003012
27 Flag of Mali.svg Stade Malien 00020.510.5
28 Flag of Guinea.svg Horoya 2120010
29 Flag of Egypt.svg Future 000.5209.5
30 Flag of Tunisia.svg Étoile du Sahel 120109
31 Flag of South Africa.svg Marumo Gallants 003009
32 Flag of Algeria.svg ES Sétif 140009
33 Flag of Mauritania.svg FC Nouadhibou 000208.5
34 Flag of Libya.svg Abu Salim 000208
35 Flag of Nigeria.svg Enyimba 200017
Flag of Senegal.svg ASC Jaraaf 20001
37 Flag of Cameroon.svg Coton Sport 30.51007
38 Flag of Tunisia.svg CS Sfaxien 21000.56.5
39 Flag of Botswana.svg Jwaneng Galaxy 010106
40 Flag of Tunisia.svg US Monastir 002006
41 Flag of Sudan.svg Al-Merrikh 111006
42 Flag of Libya.svg Al-Ahli Tripoli 030006
43 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Maniema Union 000015
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Stade d'Abidjan 00001
Flag of Mali.svg Djoliba 00001
Flag of Angola.svg Bravos do Maquis 00001
Flag of Angola.svg Lunda Sul 00001
48 Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Diables Noirs 0010.505
49 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg AS Vita Club 201005
50 Flag of South Africa.svg Kaizer Chiefs 500005
51 Flag of Ghana.svg Medeama 000104
Flag of Tunisia.svg Club Africain 00010
Flag of South Africa.svg Sekhukhune United 00010
Flag of Libya.svg Al Hilal Benghazi 00010
55 Flag of Libya.svg Al Ittihad 020004
Flag of South Africa.svg AmaZulu 02000
57 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Saint-Éloi Lupopo 001003
Flag of Mali.svg Real Bamako 00100
Flag of Togo (3-2).svg ASKO Kara 00100
Flag of Uganda.svg Vipers 00100
61 Flag of Botswana.svg Orapa United 00000.52.5
Flag of Mozambique.svg Black Bulls 00000.5
63 Flag of Angola.svg Académica do Lobito 0000.502
Flag of Guinea.svg Académie SOAR 0000.50
Flag of South Africa.svg SuperSport United 0000.50
66 Flag of Algeria.svg JS Saoura 010002
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg AS Otôho 01000
68 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg DC Motema Pembe 000.5001.5
Flag of Libya.svg Al Akhdar 000.500
70 Flag of Zambia.svg Zanaco 00.50001
Flag of Niger.svg USGN 00.5000
Flag of Eswatini.svg Royal Leopards 00.5000
73 Flag of Zambia.svg Nkana 100001
Flag of Senegal.svg Teungueth 10000
75 Flag of Libya.svg Al Ahly Benghazi 0.500000.5
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Salitas 0.50000
Flag of Tanzania.svg Namungo 0.50000
Flag of Zambia.svg NAPSA Stars 0.50000

Historical rankings since 2011

Legend
AssociationRank (points)
201120122013201420152016201720182018–192019–202020–212021–222022–232023–242024–252025-26
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 2 (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)1 (190.5)
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 8 (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)2 (142)
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 14 (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)3 (131)
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 6 (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)4 (130)
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 16 (5)24 (2)12 (18)13 (14)12 (27.5)11 (30.5)6 (56.5)6 (71)5 (82.5)
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 1 (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)6 (82.5)
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 11 (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)7 (55)
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 5 (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)8 (45)
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 4 (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)9 (40)
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 7 (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)10 (38)
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 16 (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)11 (24)
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 3 (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)12 (21)
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 8 (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)13 (18.5)
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 13 (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)14 (16)
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 18 (1)18 (5)10 (30)9 (38)7 (38)10 (31)10 (29)13 (20.5)15 (12)
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 24 (4)25 (3)27 (2)18 (6)21 (4)19 (8)16 (8.5)
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 14 (15)15 (12)17 (9)21 (6)17 (8)
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 27 (2.5)27 (2)28 (1.5)27 (1)17 (10.5)18 (8)
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 9 (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)19 (7)
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 10 (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)20 (7)
Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 24 (4)25 (3)27 (2)30 (1)19 (5)22 (4)21 (3)
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 18 (5)17 (11)18 (8)20 (5)26 (2)19 (5)22 (4)22 (3)
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 10 (15)15 (13)17 (9)20 (5)30 (1)23 (2.5)
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 14 (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)24 (2.5)
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 18 (5)22 (7)23 (5)26 (3)21 (3.5)23 (2)24 (1.5)25 (1)
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 16 (5)15 (4)17 (3)19 (2)18 (1)24 (2.5)23 (2)24 (1.5)25 (1)
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 18 (1)28 (2.5)29 (2)23 (4)23 (3)23 (2)26 (1)27 (0.5)
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 12 (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)
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 27 (2.5)27 (2)28 (1.5)27 (1)28 (0.5)
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 14 (14)15 (11)17 (8)19 (5)23 (2)
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 20 (8)22 (6)23 (4)26 (2)
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 15 (5)17 (4)17 (3)18 (2)13 (10.5)23 (6)24 (4)27 (2)
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 18 (1)23 (2.5)29 (1.5)31 (1)32 (0.5)
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 17 (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:

Club results

Club results of the previous 5 seasons and the current season based on the current points system are as follows: [3]

6 points5 points4 points3 points2 points1 point0.5 point
2019–20 CL Flag of Egypt.svg Al-Ahly
CC Flag of Morocco.svg RS Berkane Flag of Egypt.svg Pyramids
2020–21 CL Flag of Egypt.svg Al-Ahly Flag of South Africa.svg Kaizer Chiefs
CC Flag of Morocco.svg Raja CA Flag of Algeria.svg JS Kabylie
2021–22 CL Flag of Morocco.svg Wydad AC Flag of Egypt.svg Al-Ahly
CC Flag of Morocco.svg RS Berkane Flag of South Africa.svg Orlando Pirates
2022–23 CL Flag of Egypt.svg Al Ahly Flag of Morocco.svg Wydad AC
CC Flag of Algeria.svg USM Alger Flag of Tanzania.svg Young Africans
2023–24 CL Flag of Egypt.svg Al Ahly Flag of Tunisia.svg Espérance de Tunis
CC Flag of Egypt.svg Zamalek Flag of Morocco.svg RS Berkane
2024–25 CL Flag of Egypt.svg Pyramids Flag of South Africa.svg Mamelodi Sundowns
CC Flag of Morocco.svg RS Berkane Flag of Tanzania.svg Simba

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. [6] 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

  1. "FIFA Ranking Table – African Zone (Dec 2005)". FIFA Ranking Archives. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  2. "Two South African clubs for each Interclub Competition". CAFOnline.com . 29 November 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Draw Procedures for Interclubs Group Phase". CAFOnline.com . 20 March 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  4. "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.
  5. "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.
  6. "Disqualification of ES Sétif". CAFOnline.com . 23 June 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2018.