# 2012 CAF Champions League

The 2012 CAF Champions League (also known as the 2012 Orange CAF Champions League for sponsorship reasons) was the 48th edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the 16th edition under the current CAF Champions League format.
Al-Ahly from Egypt won a record seventh title, defeating Espérance ST from Tunisia with a 3–2 win on aggregate in the final. They qualified for the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup, and also earned the right to play in the 2013 CAF Super Cup.

## Association team allocation

Theoretically, up to 55 CAF member associations may enter the 2012 CAF Champions League, with the 12 highest ranked associations according to CAF 5-year ranking eligible to enter 2 teams in the competition. For this year's competition, CAF used 2006-10 5-Year ranking. As a result, a maximum of 67 teams could enter the tournament – although this level has never been reached.

### Ranking system

CAF calculates points for each entrant association based on their clubs’ performance over the last 5 years in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, not taking into considering the running year. 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 follow:
* 2010 – 5
* 2009 – 4
* 2008 – 3
* 2007 – 2
* 2006 – 1

### Entrants list

Below is the entrants list for the competition. Nations are shown according to their 2006–2010 CAF 5-year ranking – those with a ranking score have their rank and score indicated. Teams were also seeded using their individual 2007–2011 5-Year team Ranking. The top thirteen sides (shown in bold) received byes to the first qualifying round.
| Association | Club | Qualifying method |
| Associations with two entrants (Ranked 1–12) |||
| Tunisia (1st - 97 pts) | Espérance ST$^{(1st–42pts)}$ | 2010–11 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champion |
| Tunisia (1st - 97 pts) | Étoile du Sahel$^{(6th–17pts)}$ | 2010–11 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 runner-up |
| Egypt (2nd - 81 pts) | Al-Ahly$^{(4th–36pts)}$ | 2010–11 Egyptian Premier League champion |
| Egypt (2nd - 81 pts) | Zamalek$^{(=15th–2pts)}$ | 2010–11 Egyptian Premier League runner-up |
| Congo DR (3rd - 60 pts) | TP Mazembe$^{(2nd–41pts)}$ | 2011 Linafoot champion |
| Congo DR (3rd - 60 pts) | AS Vita Club$^{(14th–3pts)}$ | 2011 Linafoot runner-up |
| Nigeria (4th - 58 pts) | Dolphins$^{(=15th–2pts)}$ | 2010–11 Nigeria Premier League champion |
| Nigeria (4th - 58 pts) | Sunshine Stars$^{(=10th–10pts)}$ | 2010–11 Nigeria Premier League runner-up |
| Sudan (5th - 47 pts) | Al-Merreikh$^{(=10th–10pts)}$ | 2011 Sudan Premier League champion |
| Sudan (5th - 47 pts) | Al-Hilal$^{(3rd–37pts)}$ | 2011 Sudan Premier League runner-up |
| Algeria (6th - 45 pts) | ASO Chlef | 2010–11 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champion |
| Algeria (6th - 45 pts) | JSM Béjaïa | 2010–11 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 runner-up |
| Morocco (7th - 27 pts) | Raja Casablanca$^{(12th–5pts)}$ | 2010–11 Botola champion |
| Morocco (7th - 27 pts) | Maghreb de Fès$^{(7th–15pts)}$ | 2010–11 Botola runner-up |
| Mali (8th - 21 pts) | Stade Malien$^{(8th–12pts)}$ | 2010–11 Malian Première Division champion |
| Mali (8th - 21 pts) | Djoliba$^{(13th–4pts)}$ | 2010–11 Malian Première Division runner-up |
| Zimbabwe (9th - 18 pts) | Dynamos$^{(=10th–10pts)}$ | 2011 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League champion |
| Zimbabwe (9th - 18 pts) | FC Platinum | 2011 Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League runner-up |
| Cameroon (11th - 14 pts) | Coton Sport$^{(5th–18pts)}$ | 2010–11 Cameroonian Premier League champion |
| Cameroon (11th - 14 pts) | Les Astres$^{(17th–1pt)}$ | 2010–11 Cameroonian Premier League runner-up |
| Ivory Coast (=12th - 13 pts)$^†$ | Africa Sports | 2011 Côte d'Ivoire Premier Division champion |
| Ivory Coast (=12th - 13 pts)$^†$ | AFAD Djékanou | 2011 Côte d'Ivoire Premier Division runner-up |
| Associations with one entrant (Fewer ranking points than the 12th CAF association) |||
| Angola (=12th - 13 pts)$^†$ | Recreativo do Libolo | 2011 Girabola champion |
| Zambia (=12th - 13 pts)$^†$ | Power Dynamos | 2011 Zambian Premier League champion |
| Ghana (15th - 6 pts) | Berekum Chelsea | 2010–11 Ghanaian Premier League champion |
| Niger (=16th - 5 pts) | ASGNN | 2010–11 Niger Premier League champion |
| South Africa (=16th - 5 pts) | Orlando Pirates | 2010–11 Premier Soccer League champion |
| Equatorial Guinea (18th - 1 pt) | CD Elá Nguema | 2011 Equatoguinean Premier League champion |
| Benin | Tonnerre | 2010–11 Benin Premier League leader (league suspended) |
| Burkina Faso | ASFA Yennenga | 2010–11 Burkinabé Premier League champion |
| Burundi | Athlético Olympic | 2010–11 Burundi Premier League champion |
| Central African Republic | DFC 8ème Arrondissement | 2011 Central African Republic League champion |
| Chad | Foullah Edifice | 2011 Ligue de N'Djaména champion |
| Comoros | Coin Nord | 2011 Comoros Premier League champion |
| Congo | Diables Noirs | 2011 Congo Premier League champion |
| Ethiopia | Ethiopian Coffee | 2010–11 Ethiopian Premier League champion |
| Gabon | Missile | 2010–11 Gabon Championnat National D1 champion |
| Gambia | Brikama United | 2011 GFA League First Division champion |
| Guinea | Horoya AC | 2011 Guinée Championnat National champion |
| Kenya | Tusker | 2011 Kenyan Premier League champion |
| Lesotho | Lesotho Correctional Services | 2010–11 Lesotho Premier League champion |
| Liberia | LISCR | 2010–11 Liberian Premier League champion |
| Madagascar | Japan Actuel's | 2011 THB Champions League champion |
| Mozambique | Liga Muçulmana | 2011 Moçambola champion |
| Rwanda | APR | 2010–11 Rwandan Premier League champion |
| Senegal | US Ouakam | 2011 Senegal Premier League champion |
| Sierra Leone | Ports Authority | 2011 Sierra Leone National Premier League champion |
| Swaziland | Green Mamba | 2010–11 Swazi Premier League champion |
| Tanzania | Young Africans | 2010–11 Tanzanian Premier League champion |
| Uganda | URA | 2010–11 Ugandan Super League champion |
| Zanzibar | Mafunzo | 2011 Zanzibar Premier League champion |

#### Notes

* Associations that did not enter a team: Libya (seeded 10th with 16 ranking points and entitled to two entrants), Botswana, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Réunion, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Somalia, Togo
* $^†$ According to the formula for calculating the CAF 5-year ranking, Angola, Ivory Coast and Zambia are tied 12th place with 13 ranking points. As stated in local media reports, Ivory Coast have two entrants, while Angola and Zambia have one entrant.
* Unranked associations have no ranking points and hence are equal 19th.
* Unranked teams have no rankings points and hence are equal 18th. Club ranking is determined only between teams qualified for the 2012 CAF Champions League.

## Round and draw dates

Schedule of dates for 2012 competition.
| Phase | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
| Qualifying | Preliminary round | 9 December 2011 (Cairo, Egypt) | 17–19 February | 2–4 March |
| Qualifying | First round | 9 December 2011 (Cairo, Egypt) | 23–25 March | 6–8 April |
| Qualifying | Second round | 9 December 2011 (Cairo, Egypt) | 27–29 April | 11–13 May |
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 15 May 2012 (Cairo, Egypt) | 6–8 July | 6–8 July |
| Group stage | Matchday 2 | 15 May 2012 (Cairo, Egypt) | 20–22 July | 20–22 July |
| Group stage | Matchday 3 | 15 May 2012 (Cairo, Egypt) | 3–5 August | 3–5 August |
| Group stage | Matchday 4 | 15 May 2012 (Cairo, Egypt) | 17–19 August | 17–19 August |
| Group stage | Matchday 5 | 15 May 2012 (Cairo, Egypt) | 31 August–2 September | 31 August–2 September |
| Group stage | Matchday 6 | 15 May 2012 (Cairo, Egypt) | 14–16 September | 14–16 September |
| Knock-out stage | Semifinals | 15 May 2012 (Cairo, Egypt) | 5–7 October | 19–21 October |
| Knock-out stage | Final | 15 May 2012 (Cairo, Egypt) | 2–4 November | 16–18 November$^†$ |
$^†$ Moved from original date of 9–11 November.

## Qualifying rounds

The fixtures for the preliminary, first and second qualifying rounds were announced on 9 December 2011.
Qualification ties were decided over two legs, with aggregate goals used to determine the winner. If the sides were level on aggregate after the second leg, the away goals rule was applied, and if still level, the tie proceeded directly to a penalty shootout (no extra time was played).

### Preliminary round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| ASFA Yennenga | 1–4 | ASO Chlef | 0–0 | 1–4 |
| AS Vita Club | 6–4 | Atlético Olympic | 5–0 | 1–4 |
| DFC 8ème Arrondissement | 2–2 (a) | Astres FC | 1–0 | 1–2 |
| Young Africans | 1–2 | Zamalek | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Missile | 3–4 | Africa Sports | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| Ports Authority | 0–1 | Horoya AC | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Foullah Edifice | 1–3 | JSM Béjaïa | 0–0 | 1–3 |
| AFAD Djékanou | 2–0 | Diables Noirs | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Tusker | 0–1 | APR | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Coin Nord | 2–4 | Ethiopian Coffee | 1–0 | 1–4 |
| ASGNN | 0–1 | Tonnerre | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Orlando Pirates | 2–4 | Recreativo do Libolo | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| URA | 3–0 | Lesotho Correctional Services | 3–0 | 0–0 |
| Mafunzo | 0–5 | Liga Muçulmana | 0–2 | 0–3 |
| Brikama United | 1–1 (3–1 p) | US Ouakam | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| Sony Elá Nguema | 0–6 | Dolphins | 0–3 | 0–3 |
| LISCR | 0–5 | Berekum Chelsea | 0–2 | 0–3 |
| Green Mamba | 2–8 | FC Platinum | 2–4 | 0–4 |
| Japan Actuel's | 1–8 | Power Dynamos | 1–5 | 0–3 |

### First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| ASO Chlef | 3–2 | AS Vita Club | 0–0 | 3–2 |
| DFC 8ème Arrondissement | 1–8 | Al-Hilal | 0–3 | 1–5 |
| Zamalek(a) | 2–2 | Africa Sports | 1–0 | 1–2 |
| Horoya AC | 1–4 | Maghreb de Fès | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| JSM Béjaïa | 1–5 | AFAD Djékanou | 1–2 | 0–3 |
| APR | 2–3 | Étoile du Sahel | 0–0 | 2–3 |
| Ethiopian Coffee | 0–3 | Al-Ahly | 0–0 | 0–3 |
| Tonnerre | 2–5 | Stade Malien | 0–0 | 2–5 |
| Recreativo do Libolo | 4–4 (a) | Sunshine Stars | 4–1 | 0–3 |
| URA | w/o | Djoliba | 0–2 | — |
| Liga Muçulmana | 2–3 | Dynamos | 2–2 | 0–1 |
| Brikama United | 2–4 | Espérance ST | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Dolphins | 2–2 (a) | Coton Sport | 2–1 | 0–1 |
| Berekum Chelsea | 5–3 | Raja Casablanca | 5–0 | 0–3 |
| FC Platinum | 2–5 | Al-Merreikh | 2–2 | 0–3 |
| Power Dynamos | 1–7 | TP Mazembe | 1–1 | 0–6 |

#### Notes

* Note 1: Djoliba advanced to the second round after being awarded the tie by CAF, as URA did not travel to Mali for the second leg due to the Malian crisis.

### Second round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Al-Hilal | 2–2 (2–4 p) | ASO Chlef | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Maghreb de Fès | 0–4 | Zamalek | 0–2 | 0–2 |
| Étoile du Sahel | 4–2 | AFAD Djékanou | 4–1 | 0–1 |
| Stade Malien | 2–3 | Al-Ahly | 1–0 | 1–3 |
| Djoliba | 1–2 | Sunshine Stars | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Espérance ST | 7–1 | Dynamos | 6–0 | 1–1 |
| Berekum Chelsea | 2–1 | Coton Sport | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| TP Mazembe | 3–1 | Al-Merreikh | 2–0 | 1–1 |
The losing teams from the second round advanced to the 2012 CAF Confederation Cup play-off round.

## Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 15 May 2012. The eight teams were seeded into four pots (using their individual 2007–2011 5-Year team Ranking). Each group contained one team from each pot. The matchdays were 6–8 July, 20–22 July, 3–5 August, 17–19 August, 31 August–2 September, and 14–16 September.
* Key to colours in group tables
* Group winners and runners-up advance to the Semifinals

### Group A

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | EST | SST | ASO | ESS |
| 1 | ES Tunis | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Sunshine Stars | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | – |
| 3 | ASO Chlef | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 2 | | 1–0 | 1–2 | — | 0–1 |
| 4 | Étoile du Sahel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Disqualified | 0–2 | 0–0 | – | — |
* ↑ The match Étoile du Sahel v Espérance ST on Matchday 4 was abandoned due to crowd disturbance. The CAF decided to disqualify Étoile du Sahel as a result and all results obtained previously by Étoile du Sahel within Group A were cancelled.

### Group B

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AHL | TPM | BER | ZAM |
| 1 | Al-Ahly | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 8 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| 2 | TP Mazembe | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Berekum Chelsea | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 10 | −1 | 7 | | 1–1 | 1–0 | — | 3–2 |
| 4 | Zamalek SC | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 2 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | — |

## Knock-out stage
### Bracket

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Sunshine Stars | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | |
| 4 | Al Ahly | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | | | |
| 4 | Al Ahly | 3 | 1 | 4 | Al Ahly | Al Ahly | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | | | | | Espérance ST | Espérance ST | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | TP Mazembe | 0 | 0 | 0 | Espérance ST | Espérance ST | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Espérance ST | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |

### Semifinals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Sunshine Stars | 3–4 | Al Ahly | 3–3 | 0–1 |
| TP Mazembe | 0–1 | Espérance ST | 0–0 | 0–1 |

### Final
## Top scorers

| Rank | Name | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Emmanuel Clottey | Berekum Chelsea | 12 |
| 2 | Mohamed Aboutrika | Al-Ahly | 6 |
| 2 | Mbwana Samata | TP Mazembe | 6 |
| 2 | Tresor Mputu | TP Mazembe | 6 |
| 5 | Geddo | Al-Ahly | 5 |
| 5 | Izu Azuka | Sunshine Stars | 5 |
| 5 | Yannick N'Djeng | Espérance ST | 5 |
| 8 | Karim Ali Hadji | ASO Chlef | 4 |
| 8 | Rasca | Recreativo do Libolo | 4 |
| 8 | Mudather El Tahir | Al-Hilal | 4 |
| 8 | Youssef Msakni | Espérance ST | 4 |