CAF 5-Year Ranking
Encyclopedia
The Confederation of African Football
football CAF 5-Year Ranking is used to determine the number of clubs that each CAF member association may enter in the region's club competitions. At present, those associations ranked in the top twelve (or tied for twelfth) may enter two sides into each of the two continental tournaments, while the remaining associations are limited to a single side in each competition.
, the African Cup Winners' Cup
, and the CAF Cup
) with each association allowed to enter a single side in each tournament.
Starting from the 2004 season, the Cup Winners' Cup and CAF Cup were combined into a new tournament, the CAF Confederation Cup
. Rather than limiting all associations to just two positions in CAF tournaments, CAF decided to allow the leading nations two entries into the new tournament, and also allow them a second entry in the Champions League.
As with the UEFA ranking used for their club tournaments, the CAF ranking is based on the results obtained in each of the past five completed club seasons (each weighted equally). There are some differences, notably:
According to this system the countries selected were Tunisia
(36 points), Egypt
(31 points), Côte d'Ivoire
(27 points), Morocco (24 points), South Africa
(17 points), Algeria
(17 points), Cameroon
(14 points), Ghana
(12 points), Angola
(12 points), Nigeria
(10 points), Congo DR
(8 points), and Senegal
(6 points).
on 2000, for awarding points in 2003. Since then the only change (added in 2005) has been the addition of criteria that rewards clubs that advance to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup
.. 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).
The table below shows the years during which the tournament was run (although for the CAF 5-year rankings only results since 1998 have counted). Since 2011 the Super Cup and FIFA World Cup Club have been excluded.
Legend
Associations above the green line (those with at least as many ranking points as the 12th best nation) are entitled to enter two teams in each of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup. All other nations may only enter a single team in each.
The published rankings from CAF showed different totals to those shown here - namely Tunisia 96, Egypt 87, Sudan 54, Côte d'Ivoire 18.
Associations above the green line (the top 12 nations) are entitled to enter two teams in each of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup. All other nations may only enter a single team in each.
Angola was informed by CAF that it will have only 2 teams (one team in each competition) competing in 2012.
CAF has not published any tiebraking criteria. Therefore the 13th country in this table may change. However, given the discrepancies in the 2011 rankings, the final results may differ.
Italicised numbers in the 2011 results indicate where an association still has teams in the 2011 competition. The points shown are the minimum that will be achieved, although more are possible.
Associations above the green line (the top 12 nations) are entitled to enter two teams in each of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup. All other nations may only enter a single team in each.
CAF has not published any tiebraking criteria. Therefore the 13th country in this table may change. However, given the discrepancies in the 2011 rankings, the final results may differ.
Confederation of African Football
The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...
football CAF 5-Year Ranking is used to determine the number of clubs that each CAF member association may enter in the region's club competitions. At present, those associations ranked in the top twelve (or tied for twelfth) may enter two sides into each of the two continental tournaments, while the remaining associations are limited to a single side in each competition.
Introduction of the ranking
Prior to 2004, CAF organised three club tournaments (the CAF Champions LeagueCAF Champions League
The CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football . The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the...
, the African Cup Winners' Cup
African Cup Winners' Cup
The African Cup Winners' Cup was a football competition that started in 1975 and merged with the CAF Cup in 2004 to form the CAF Confederations Cup...
, and the CAF Cup
CAF Cup
The CAF Cup was an annual competition organised by the CAF for domestic leagues runner-ups of member associations who haven't qualified to one of the two pre-existing CAF international club competitions the African Cup of Champions Clubs or the African Cup Winners' Cup.-Format:Only runner-ups of...
) with each association allowed to enter a single side in each tournament.
Starting from the 2004 season, the Cup Winners' Cup and CAF Cup were combined into a new tournament, the CAF Confederation Cup
CAF Confederation Cup
The CAF Confederation Cup is an international club association football competition run by the Confederation of African Football.-Qualification:...
. Rather than limiting all associations to just two positions in CAF tournaments, CAF decided to allow the leading nations two entries into the new tournament, and also allow them a second entry in the Champions League.
As with the UEFA ranking used for their club tournaments, the CAF ranking is based on the results obtained in each of the past five completed club seasons (each weighted equally). There are some differences, notably:
- More tournaments are included (the CAF Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup also allow teams to obtain 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)
- Points are not awarded for the results of individual matches, only the final level of advancement (such as winner, or position in a group stage) determines ranking points
- Only teams that advance to the final eight teams in each club tournament can obtain points
The initial ranking system
The initial classification (for 2004 tournaments) was made according to the performance of the countries in the previous 5 years (1998 to 2002) in club competitions held by the Confederation of African Football.According to this system the countries selected were Tunisia
Fédération Tunisienne de Football
The Fédération Tunisienne de Football is the governing body of football in Tunisia. It was established in 1956.-Clubs:Clubs that have participated in the Division Nationale de Football between 1956 and 1996:*AMS Association Mégrine Sportive...
(36 points), Egypt
Egyptian Football Association
The Egyptian Football Association is the governing body of football in Egypt.The leading Egyptian clubs are as follows, with the total number of national competitions following the name of the club....
(31 points), Côte d'Ivoire
Fédération Ivoirienne de Football
The Fédération Ivoirienne de Football is the governing body of football in Côte d'Ivoire and is in charge of the Côte d'Ivoire national team amongst other footballing matters...
(27 points), Morocco (24 points), South Africa
South African Football Association
The South African Football Association or SAFA is the governing body of football in South Africa.-History:The South African Football Association was founded on 8 December, 1991, the culmination of a long unity process that was to rid the sport in South Africa of all its past racial division.Four...
(17 points), Algeria
Fédération Algérienne de Football
The Algerian Football Federation is the governing body of football in Algeria. Although an unofficial national team had played fixtures since 1958, the first recognised international took place in January 1963, some six months after independence....
(17 points), Cameroon
Fédération Camerounaise de Football
The Fédération Camerounaise de Football is the governing body of football in Cameroon.- External links :* * at the FIFA website.* at CAF Online...
(14 points), Ghana
Ghana Football Association
The Ghana Football Association is the governing body of association football in Ghana, based in Accra.-Amateur Status:It is on record that the game of Football was introduced into the Gold Coast towards the close of the 19th century by Merchants from Europe, who had then invaded the coastal areas...
(12 points), Angola
Federação Angolana de Futebol
The Federação Angolana de Futebol is the governing body of football in Angola. It was founded in 1979, and affiliated to FIFA and to CAF in 1980. It organizes the national football league Girabola and the national team....
(12 points), Nigeria
Nigeria Football Association
The Nigeria Football Federation organises domestic and international football in Nigeria. It was formally launched in 1945 and formed the first Nigerian national football team in 1949. It joined FIFA and the CAF in 1959...
(10 points), Congo DR
Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association
The Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association is the governing body of football in Congo DR. It was founded in 1919 and affiliated to the FIFA in 1962 and CAF in 1963. It organizes the national football league Linafoot and the national team....
(8 points), and Senegal
Fédération Sénégalaise de Football
The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football is the governing body of football in Senegal. It was founded in 1960, affiliated to FIFA in 1962 and to CAF in 1963. It organizes the national football league and the national team.-External links:...
(6 points).
Season 2005 controversy
In July 2004 the Confederation of African Football informed its members that the ranking system for admission to the various cups 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. Since then, it has become CAF's policy to adopt a year older ranking for the competitions of the new season. So, for the 2009 season, rankings were based on results from 2003 to 2007.Season 2011 change
In December 2010 CAF altered the ranking system, removing the components from the Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, and weighting more recent results more highly. For 2011 competitions, results from seasons 2005 to 2009 were still used, but the points from 2009 were multiplied by 5, from 2008 by 4 and so on.Criteria for awarding points
CAF approved its basic criteria, based on the criteria used in the election of the CAF Clubs of the 20th CenturyCAF Clubs of the 20th Century
On 31 December 2000 the Confederation of African Football has published a ranking with the most successful clubs of the 20th century in the African continent ....
on 2000, for awarding points in 2003. Since then the only change (added in 2005) has been the addition of criteria that rewards clubs that advance to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup is a football competition between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations.The first FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in January 2000...
.. 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).
The table below shows the years during which the tournament was run (although for the CAF 5-year rankings only results since 1998 have counted). Since 2011 the Super Cup and FIFA World Cup Club have been excluded.
| Competition | 6 Points | 5 Points | 4 Points | 3 Points | 2 Points | 1 Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competitions used in current rankings | ||||||
| CAF Champions League CAF Champions League The CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football . The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the... 1997- |
Champion | Runner up | Semifinalist | 3rd in Group Stage | 4th in Group Stage | |
| CAF Confederation Cup CAF Confederation Cup The CAF Confederation Cup is an international club association football competition run by the Confederation of African Football.-Qualification:... 2004- |
Champion | Runner up | Semifinalist | 3rd in Group Stage 4th in Group Stage |
||
| Competitions used in previous rankings | ||||||
| CAF Super Cup CAF Super Cup The CAF Super Cup is an annual African association football competition contested between the winners of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. The competition was first held in 1993 and is organised by the Confederation of African Football... 1992-2010 |
Champion | |||||
| FIFA Club World Cup FIFA Club World Cup The FIFA Club World Cup is a football competition between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations.The first FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in January 2000... 2005-2010 |
Champion | Runner up 3rd Place |
4th Place | |||
Ranking for 2011 CAF Competitions
The ranking for 2011 is finished.Legend
- CL - CAF Champions LeagueCAF Champions LeagueThe CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football . The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the...
- CC - CAF Confederation CupCAF Confederation CupThe CAF Confederation Cup is an international club association football competition run by the Confederation of African Football.-Qualification:...
| Country | |2006 | |2008 |  Tunisia
| 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 98 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Egypt |
8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 83 | |||
 Nigeria |
2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 75 | |||
 Sudan |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 50 | |||
 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 46 | |||
 Algeria |
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 27 | |||
 Côte d'Ivoire |
2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | |||
 Morocco |
3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | |||
 Mali |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 | |||
 Cameroon |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | |||
 Angola |
0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 18 | |||
 Zimbabwe |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | |||
 Ghana |
0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | |||
 South Africa |
1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |||
 Zambia |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | |||
 Libya |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |||
 Equatorial Guinea |
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||
 Gabon |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
 Guinea |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Associations above the green line (those with at least as many ranking points as the 12th best nation) are entitled to enter two teams in each of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup. All other nations may only enter a single team in each.
The published rankings from CAF showed different totals to those shown here - namely Tunisia 96, Egypt 87, Sudan 54, Côte d'Ivoire 18.
Ranking for 2012 CAF Competitions
The ranking for 2012 is finished.| Country | |2007 | |2009 | Tunisia
| 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 97 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt |
5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 81 | |||
| Democratic Republic of the Congo |
0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 60 | |||
| Nigeria |
2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 58 | |||
| Sudan |
0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 47 | |||
| Algeria |
1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 45 | |||
| Morocco |
0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 27 | |||
| Mali |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 21 | |||
| Zimbabwe |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | |||
| Libya |
0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | |||
| Cameroon |
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |||
| Zambia |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | |||
| Angola |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire |
3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | |||
| Ghana |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |||
 Niger |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |||
| South Africa |
3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |||
| Equatorial Guinea |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Associations above the green line (the top 12 nations) are entitled to enter two teams in each of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup. All other nations may only enter a single team in each.
Angola was informed by CAF that it will have only 2 teams (one team in each competition) competing in 2012.
CAF has not published any tiebraking criteria. Therefore the 13th country in this table may change. However, given the discrepancies in the 2011 rankings, the final results may differ.
Provisional ranking for 2013 CAF Competitions
As of 31 October 2011 the following is the ranking for 2013.Italicised numbers in the 2011 results indicate where an association still has teams in the 2011 competition. The points shown are the minimum that will be achieved, although more are possible.
| Country | |2008 | |2010 | Tunisia
| 6 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria |
0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 70 | |||
| Egypt |
4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 64 | |||
| Morocco |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 57 | |||
| Democratic Republic of the Congo |
0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 49 | |||
| Sudan |
3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 47 | |||
| Algeria |
2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 43 | |||
| Cameroon |
0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | |||
| Angola |
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | |||
| Mali |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | |||
| Zimbabwe |
0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | |||
| Libya |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | |||
| Zambia |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |||
| Niger |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||
| Ghana |
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||
| South Africa |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Associations above the green line (the top 12 nations) are entitled to enter two teams in each of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup. All other nations may only enter a single team in each.
CAF has not published any tiebraking criteria. Therefore the 13th country in this table may change. However, given the discrepancies in the 2011 rankings, the final results may differ.