This year marks the 12th edition of the CAF Confederation Cup, initiated in 2004 following a merger of the Cup Winners’ Cup and the CAF Cup.
During the early years, 2004-2008, the winners of the two groups went through to the final, and it was not until 2009 that the semi-finals were introduced, which has become a benchmark.
During the early years, 2004-2008, the winners of the two groups went through to the final, and it was not until 2009 that the semi-finals were introduced, which has become a benchmark.
- This is the third time that two teams from the same country have qualified for the semi-finals, thus Al Ahly and Zamalek, both from Egypt.
2012: El Hilal, El Merreikh (Sudan)
2013: CS Sfaxien, CA Bizertin (Tunisia)
It must also be noted that the first edition witnessed Ghanaian duo, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko in the final, with the former eventually emerging the first winner of the competition. It was the same situation in 2008 between Etoile du Sahel and CS Sfaxien, both from Tunisia. Sfaxien won the tie for the first of their three titles.
- Of the four surviving teams, Al Ahly is the only side with a previous experience at this stage. The holders beat Coton Sport of Cameroon (1-0, 2-1) at the 2014 semis before eventually seeing off Sewe Sport of Cote d’Ivoire at the final.
Etoile du Sahel, finished tops of their group in 2006 and 2008, advancing directly to the final, because the semis was only introduced in 2009. The Sousse-based club beat FAR Rabat of Morocco in the final in 2006 before losing to fellows CS Sfaxien two years later.
- Etoile du Sahel holds the record for points achieved at the group stage – 18 points. In 2006, they recorded home and away victories over Esperance (Tunisia), St. Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo) and Renacimiento (Equatorial Guinea), scoring 15 goals against three conceded.
- The order of the semi-finals has its important. Since 2009, the team which plays the first leg at home has qualified to the final on only three occasions.
- The biggest difference in a semi-final match has never exceeded two goals. The list of winners is dominated by clubs which who started from the preliminary rounds of the competition; CS Sfaxien (2007, 2008 and 2013), Stade Malien (2009), FUS Rabat (2010), MAS Fez (2011) and AC Leopards (2012). With the exception of 2004 (Hearts of Oak), 2005 (FAR Rabat), 2006 (Etoile Sahel) and 2014 (Al Ahly) where clubs demoted from the CAF Champions League emerged winners.
2012: El Hilal, El Merreikh (Sudan)
2013: CS Sfaxien, CA Bizertin (Tunisia)
It must also be noted that the first edition witnessed Ghanaian duo, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko in the final, with the former eventually emerging the first winner of the competition. It was the same situation in 2008 between Etoile du Sahel and CS Sfaxien, both from Tunisia. Sfaxien won the tie for the first of their three titles.
- Of the four surviving teams, Al Ahly is the only side with a previous experience at this stage. The holders beat Coton Sport of Cameroon (1-0, 2-1) at the 2014 semis before eventually seeing off Sewe Sport of Cote d’Ivoire at the final.
Etoile du Sahel, finished tops of their group in 2006 and 2008, advancing directly to the final, because the semis was only introduced in 2009. The Sousse-based club beat FAR Rabat of Morocco in the final in 2006 before losing to fellows CS Sfaxien two years later.
- Etoile du Sahel holds the record for points achieved at the group stage – 18 points. In 2006, they recorded home and away victories over Esperance (Tunisia), St. Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo) and Renacimiento (Equatorial Guinea), scoring 15 goals against three conceded.
- The order of the semi-finals has its important. Since 2009, the team which plays the first leg at home has qualified to the final on only three occasions.
- The biggest difference in a semi-final match has never exceeded two goals. The list of winners is dominated by clubs which who started from the preliminary rounds of the competition; CS Sfaxien (2007, 2008 and 2013), Stade Malien (2009), FUS Rabat (2010), MAS Fez (2011) and AC Leopards (2012). With the exception of 2004 (Hearts of Oak), 2005 (FAR Rabat), 2006 (Etoile Sahel) and 2014 (Al Ahly) where clubs demoted from the CAF Champions League emerged winners.
By: Cafonline.com
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