2015 CAF Champions League
# 2015 CAF Champions League

The 2015 CAF Champions League (officially the 2015 Orange CAF Champions League for sponsorship reasons) was the 51st edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the 19th edition under the current CAF Champions League format. The winner qualified for the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup, and earned the right to play in the 2016 CAF Super Cup.

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo won the competition for the fifth time in their history after a 4–1 aggregate victory over USM Alger of Algeria in the final. ES Sétif were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the group stage.

## Association team allocation

All 56 CAF member associations may enter the CAF Champions League, with the 12 highest ranked associations according to their CAF 5-year ranking eligible to enter two teams in the competition. The title holders can also enter. As a result, theoretically a maximum of 69 teams could enter the tournament – although this level has never been reached.

For the 2015 CAF Champions League, the CAF uses the 2009–2013 CAF 5-year ranking, which calculates points for each entrant association based on their clubs’ performance over those 5 years in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. The criteria for points are the following:

| | CAF Champions League | CAF Confederation Cup |
| - | - | - |
| Winner | 5 points | 4 points |
| Runner-up | 4 points | 3 points |
| Losing semi-finalists | 3 points | 2 points |
| 3rd place in groups | 2 points | 1 point |
| 4th place in groups | 1 point | 1 point |

The points are multiplied by a coefficient according to the year as follows:

* 2013 – 5
* 2012 – 4
* 2011 – 3
* 2010 – 2
* 2009 – 1

## Teams

The following 57 teams from 44 associations entered the competition.

Teams in bold received a bye to the first round. The other teams entered the preliminary round.

Associations are shown according to their 2009–2013 CAF 5-year ranking – those with a ranking score have their rank and score indicated.

| Association | Team | Qualifying method |
| - | - | - |
| Associations eligible to enter two teams (Ranked 1–12) |||
| Tunisia (1st – 106 pts) | Espérance de Tunis | 2013–14 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champion |
| Tunisia (1st – 106 pts) | CS Sfaxien | 2013–14 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 runner-up |
| Egypt (2nd – 80 pts) | Al-Ahly | 2013–14 Egyptian Premier League champion |
| Egypt (2nd – 80 pts) | Smouha | 2013–14 Egyptian Premier League runner-up |
| DR Congo (3rd – 46 pts) | TP Mazembe | 2013–14 Linafoot champion |
| DR Congo (3rd – 46 pts) | SM Sanga Balende | 2013–14 Linafoot runner-up |
| Morocco (4th – 44 pts) | Moghreb Tétouan | 2013–14 Botola champion |
| Morocco (4th – 44 pts) | Raja Casablanca | 2013–14 Botola runner-up |
| Nigeria (5th – 41 pts) | Kano Pillars | 2014 Nigeria Professional Football League champion |
| Nigeria (5th – 41 pts) | Enyimba | 2014 Nigeria Professional Football League runner-up |
| Sudan (6th – 37 pts) | Al-Hilal | 2014 Sudan Premier League champion |
| Sudan (6th – 37 pts) | Al-Merrikh | 2014 Sudan Premier League runner-up |
| Algeria (T-7th – 32 pts) | USM Alger | 2013–14 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champion |
| Algeria (T-7th – 32 pts) | ES Sétif | Title holders (2014 CAF Champions League winner) 2013–14 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 third place |
| Algeria (T-7th – 32 pts) | MC El Eulma | 2013–14 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 fourth place |
| Mali (T-7th – 32 pts) | Stade Malien | 2013–14 Malian Première Division champion |
| Mali (T-7th – 32 pts) | Club Olympique de Bamako | 2013–14 Malian Première Division runner-up |
| Cameroon (T-9th – 21 pts) | Coton Sport | 2014 Elite One champion |
| Cameroon (T-9th – 21 pts) | Cosmos de Bafia | 2014 Elite One runner-up |
| Congo (T-9th – 21 pts) | AC Léopards | 2014 Congo Premier League first place before abandoned |
| Congo (T-9th – 21 pts) | Diables Noirs | 2014 Congo Premier League second place before abandoned |
| South Africa (11th – 20 pts) | Mamelodi Sundowns | 2013–14 South African Premier Division champion |
| South Africa (11th – 20 pts) | Kaizer Chiefs | 2013–14 South African Premier Division runner-up |
| Angola (12th – 17 pts) | Recreativo do Libolo | 2014 Girabola champion |
| Angola (12th – 17 pts) | Kabuscorp | 2014 Girabola runner-up |
| Associations eligible to enter one team |||
| Ivory Coast (13th – 13 pts) | Séwé Sport | 2013–14 Côte d'Ivoire Ligue 1 champion |
| Ghana (14th – 8 pts) | Asante Kotoko | 2013–14 Ghanaian Premier League champion |
| Ethiopia (15th – 5 pts) | Saint George | 2013–14 Ethiopian Premier League champion |
| Libya (T-16th – 4 pts) | Al-Ahli Tripoli | 2013–14 Libyan Premier League champion |
| Zambia (T-16th – 4 pts) | ZESCO United | 2014 Zambian Premier League champion |
| Niger (19th – 2 pts) | AS GNN | 2013–14 Niger Premier League champion |
| Benin | Buffles du Borgou | 2013–14 Benin Premier League champion |
| Botswana | Township Rollers | 2013–14 Botswana Premier League champion |
| Burkina Faso | Étoile Filante | 2013–14 Burkinabé Premier League champion |
| Burundi | LLB Académic | 2013–14 Burundi Premier League champion |
| Chad | Foullah Edifice | 2014 Ligue de N'Djaména champion |
| Comoros | Fomboni Club | 2014 Comoros Premier League champion |
| Equatorial Guinea | Sony Elá Nguema | 2014 Equatoguinean Premier League champion |
| Gabon | AS Mangasport | 2013–14 Gabon Championnat National D1 champion |
| Gambia | Real Banjul | 2014 GFA League First Division champion |
| Guinea | AS Kaloum | 2013–14 Guinée Championnat National champion |
| Kenya | Gor Mahia | 2014 Kenyan Premier League champion |
| Lesotho | Bantu | 2013–14 Lesotho Premier League champion |
| Liberia | Barrack Young Controllers | 2013–14 Liberian First Division League champion |
| Madagascar | CNaPS Sport | 2014 THB Champions League champion |
| Malawi | Big Bullets | 2014 Super League of Malawi champion |
| Mozambique | Liga Muçulmana | 2014 Moçambola champion |
| Rwanda | APR | 2013–14 Rwanda National Football League champion |
| Senegal | AS Pikine | 2013–14 Senegal Premier League champion |
| Seychelles | St Michel United | 2014 Seychelles First Division champion |
| Sierra Leone | East End Lions | 2014 Sierra Leone National Premier League first place before abandoned |
| South Sudan | Al-Malakia | 2014 South Sudan National Cup winner |
| Swaziland | Mbabane Swallows | 2013–14 Swazi Premier League runner-up |
| Tanzania | Azam | 2013–14 Tanzanian Premier League champion |
| Togo | AC Semassi | 2014 Togolese Championnat National champion |
| Uganda | Kampala City Council | 2013–14 Uganda Super League champion |
| Zanzibar | KMKM | 2013–14 Zanzibar Premier League champion |

### Notes

* ^ Algeria (ALG): JS Kabylie, the 2013–14 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 runner-up, was suspended by the CAF for two years due to the death of Albert Ebossé during their league home match against USM Alger. On 11 February 2015, the CAS overturned the suspension. However, their replacement MC El Eulma continued to represent Algeria in the 2015 CAF Champions League.
* ^ Gambia (GAM): Gambia were originally not able to enter a team after the association was suspended from all CAF competitions for two years for deliberately fielding overage players in the 2015 African U-20 Championship qualification match against Liberia, but the ban was lifted by the CAF following new election of the Gambia Football Association.

## Schedule

The schedule of the competition was as follows (all draws are held at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt).

| Phase | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Qualifying | Preliminary round | 22 December 2014 | 13–15 February 2015 | 27 February–1 March 2015 |
| Qualifying | First round | 22 December 2014 | 13–15 March 2015 | 3–5 April 2015 |
| Qualifying | Second round | 22 December 2014 | 17–19 April 2015 | 1–3 May 2015 |
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 5 May 2015 | 26–28 June 2015 | 26–28 June 2015 |
| Group stage | Matchday 2 | 5 May 2015 | 10–12 July 2015 | 10–12 July 2015 |
| Group stage | Matchday 3 | 5 May 2015 | 24–26 July 2015 | 24–26 July 2015 |
| Group stage | Matchday 4 | 5 May 2015 | 7–9 August 2015 | 7–9 August 2015 |
| Group stage | Matchday 5 | 5 May 2015 | 21–23 August 2015 | 21–23 August 2015 |
| Group stage | Matchday 6 | 5 May 2015 | 11–13 September 2015 | 11–13 September 2015 |
| Knockout stage | Semi-finals | 5 May 2015 | 25–27 September 2015 | 2–4 October 2015 |
| Knockout stage | Final | 5 May 2015 | 30 October–1 November 2015 | 6–8 November 2015 |

## Qualifying rounds

The draw for the preliminary, first and second qualifying rounds was held on 22 December 2014.

Qualification ties were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still level, the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (no extra time would be played).

### Preliminary round

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Mbabane Swallows | 1–2 | ZESCO United | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Séwé Sport | 2–3 | AS Kaloum | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| USM Alger | 4–3 | Foullah Edifice | 3–0 | 1–3 |
| AS Pikine | 1–0 | Étoile Filante | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Al-Hilal | 2–1 | KMKM | 2–0 | 0–1 |
| Fomboni Club | 2–3 | Big Bullets | 0–1 | 2–2 |
| Recreativo do Libolo | 3–3 (a) | SM Sanga Balende | 3–1 | 0–2 |
| Kampala City Council | 1–3 | Cosmos de Bafia | 1–0 | 0–3 |
| Azam | 2–3 | Al-Merrikh | 2–0 | 0–3 |
| LLB Académic | 0–1 | Kabuscorp | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Sony Elá Nguema | 1–2 | AC Semassi | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| MC El Eulma | 2–2 (a) | Saint George | 1–0 | 1–2 |
| East End Lions | w/o | Asante Kotoko | — | — |
| Enyimba | 4–0 | Buffles du Borgou | 3–0 | 1–0 |
| Al-Ahli Tripoli | 1–1 (3–5 p) | Smouha | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Gor Mahia | 3–3 (a) | CNaPS Sport | 1–0 | 2–3 |
| Liga Muçulmana | 1–2 | APR | 0–0 | 1–2 |
| Club Olympique de Bamako | 2–3 | Moghreb Tétouan | 2–0 | 0–3 |
| Al-Malakia | 0–5 | Kano Pillars | 0–2 | 0–3 |
| Real Banjul | 2–1 | Barrack Young Controllers | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 3–1 | Township Rollers | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Raja Casablanca | 6–2 | Diables Noirs | 4–0 | 2–2 |
| St Michel United | 1–4 | Mamelodi Sundowns | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| AS Mangasport | 1–0 | Bantu | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Stade Malien | 1–1 (a) | AS GNN | 0–0 | 1–1 |

**Notes**

* ^ Asante Kotoko won on walkover after East End Lions withdrew.

### First round

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| ZESCO United | 2–2 (4–5 p) | AS Kaloum | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| USM Alger | 6–2 | AS Pikine | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Al-Hilal | 5–1 | Big Bullets | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Coton Sport | 0–2 | SM Sanga Balende | 0–0 | 0–2 |
| Cosmos de Bafia | 1–4 | Espérance de Tunis | 0–1 | 1–3 |
| Al-Merrikh | 3–2 | Kabuscorp | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| AC Semassi | 0–6 | CS Sfaxien | 0–5 | 0–1 |
| MC El Eulma | 2–1 | Asante Kotoko | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| Enyimba | 1–2 | Smouha | 1–0 | 0–2 |
| Gor Mahia | 0–2 | AC Léopards | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| APR | 0–4 | Al-Ahly | 0–2 | 0–2 |
| Moghreb Tétouan | 5–2 | Kano Pillars | 4–0 | 1–2 |
| Real Banjul | 1–3 | ES Sétif | 1–1 | 0–2 |
| Kaizer Chiefs | 0–3 | Raja Casablanca | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 2–3 | TP Mazembe | 1–0 | 1–3 |
| AS Mangasport | 2–5 | Stade Malien | 1–3 | 1–2 |

### Second round

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| USM Alger | 3–2 | AS Kaloum | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| SM Sanga Balende | 0–2 | Al-Hilal | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| Al-Merrikh | 2–2 (a) | Espérance de Tunis | 1–0 | 1–2 |
| MC El Eulma | 1–1 (7–6 p) | CS Sfaxien | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| AC Léopards | 1–2 | Smouha | 1–0 | 0–2 |
| Moghreb Tétouan | 1–1 (4–3 p) | Al-Ahly | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Raja Casablanca | 4–4 (1–4 p) | ES Sétif | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Stade Malien | 3–4 | TP Mazembe | 2–2 | 1–2 |

The losers of the second round entered the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup play-off round.

## Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 5 May 2015, 11:00 UTC+2, at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. The eight winners of the second round were drawn into two groups of four. Each group contained one team from Pot 1, one team from Pot 2, and two teams from Pot 3. The seeding of each team was determined by their ranking points calculated based on performances in continental club championships for the period 2010–2014.

The following eight teams were entered into the draw:

| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 |
| - | - | - |
| TP Mazembe (41 pts) ES Sétif (31 pts) | Al-Hilal (24 pts) Al-Merrikh (6 pts) | MC El Eulma (0 pt) USM Alger (0 pt) Smouha (0 pt) Moghreb Tétouan (0 pt) |

Each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the semi-finals.

* Tiebreakers
* The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers would be applied in the following order:
* Number of points obtained in games between the teams concerned;
* Goal difference in games between the teams concerned;
* Goals scored in games between the teams concerned;
* Away goals scored in games between the teams concerned;
* If, after applying criteria 1 to 4 to several teams, two teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 4 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the two teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 6 to 9 apply;
* Goal difference in all games;
* Goals scored in all games;
* Away goals scored in all games;
* Drawing of lots.

### Group A

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | TPM | HIL | MAT | SMO |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | TP Mazembe | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 11 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 0–0 | 5–0 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Al-Hilal | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage | 1–0 | — | 0–1 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Moghreb Tétouan | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 8 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 |
| 4 | Smouha | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 4 | | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — |

### Group B

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | USM | MER | ESS | MCE |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | USM Alger | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 15 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 |
| 2 | Al-Merrikh | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 13 | Advance to knockout stage | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| 3 | ES Sétif | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 5 | | 1–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 |
| 4 | MC El Eulma | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 11 | −6 | 1 | | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–1 | — |

## Knockout stage

Knockout ties were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still level, the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (no extra time would be played).

### Bracket

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Al-Hilal | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | |
| 4 | USM Alger | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | |
| 4 | USM Alger | 2 | 0 | 2 | USM Alger | USM Alger | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | | | TP Mazembe | TP Mazembe | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | Al-Merrikh | 2 | 0 | 2 | TP Mazembe | TP Mazembe | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 | TP Mazembe | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | |

### Semi-finals

In the semi-finals, the group A winners played the group B runners-up, and the group B winners played the group A runners-up, with the group winners hosting the second leg.

| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Al-Merrikh | 2–4 | TP Mazembe | 2–1 | 0–3 |
| Al-Hilal | 1–2 | USM Alger | 1–2 | 0–0 |

### Final

In the final, the order of legs was determined by a draw, held after the group stage draw.

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Bakri Al-Madina | Al-Merrikh | 7 |
| 1 | Mbwana Samatta | TP Mazembe | 7 |
| 3 | Mouhcine Iajour | Moghreb Tétouan | 6 |
| 3 | Roger Assalé | TP Mazembe | 6 |
| 5 | Christian Osaguona | Raja Casablanca | 5 |
| 6 | Youcef Belaïli | USM Alger | 4 |
| 6 | Rainford Kalaba | TP Mazembe | 4 |
| 6 | Justine Zulu | ZESCO United | 4 |
| 9 | Kaddour Beldjilali | USM Alger | 3 |
| 9 | Mohamed Rabie Meftah | USM Alger | 3 |
| 9 | Mohamed Seguer | USM Alger | 3 |
| 9 | Kabamba Mukundi | SM Sanga Balende | 3 |
| 9 | Hermann Kouao | Smouha | 3 |
| 9 | Kabongo Kassongo | Kaloum Star | 3 |
| 9 | Adil Karrouchy | Raja Casablanca | 3 |
| 9 | Mohammed Gambo | Kano Pillars | 3 |
| 9 | Mudather Careca | Al-Hilal | 3 |
| 9 | Nizar Hamid | Al-Hilal | 3 |
| 9 | Boubacar Kébé | Al-Hilal | 3 |
| 9 | Ahmed Abdalla | Al-Merrikh | 3 |
| 9 | Yannick N'Djeng | Espérance de Tunis | 3 |
