Confederation of African Football Considers Return to 2 Legged Format for CAF Champions League Final

Confederation of African Football Considers Return to 2 Legged Format for CAF Champions League Final

Byron Pillay
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:02 PM
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Africa
  • The Confederation of African Football is looking into returning to a 2-legged format for the final of the CAF Champions League
  • The past 2 CAF Champions League finals were contested over 1 leg and saw Al Ahly win the title on both occasions
  • CAF are considering a 2-legged tie due to a lack of interest from countries wanting to host the Champions League final

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is considering going back to its roots.

CAF has confirmed that it is considering returning to a two-legged final for the CAF Champions League.

Confederation of African Football, Return, Format, CAF Champions League, Final, South Africa, Morocco, Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Africa, Champions, Kaizer Chiefs
Ah Ahly have won the only two CAF Champions League finals to be decided in a single tie, but CAF is considering returning to the two-legged format again. Image: Stringer/Picture Alliance
Source: Getty Images

In 2019 CAF leadership decided the winner of the Champions League would be decided by a single tie and not the two-legged formal. The CAF Champions League final has been contested in a two-legged tie, home and away, for over four decades.

The decision to move to a single tie was done to emulate the UEFA Champions League, however, Africa has struggled to find willing host countries.

CAF is now considering going back to the home and away format due to the lack of countries willing to host a single final, ESPN Africa confirmed.

This year the final will be contested in Morocco for the second time in a row, a decision which has caused a lot of controversies.

Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has been vocal about the decision and questioned how Morocco could host the final when a Moroccan team was in the semi-finals, Sport24 confirmed.

Egypt's Al Ahly approaches Court of Arbitration for Sport over CAF Champions League final controversy

Al Ahly are not taking the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision lying down.

The Egyptian giants have decided to take the organisation to the highest sporting court in the world as they seek to get the final of the CAF Champions League moved to a new venue.

iDiskiTimes confirmed that the reigning champions will take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, the highest court available to deal with sporting matters.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and Fouzi Lekjaa Are Targeted in Champions League Venue Controversy

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) continues to be at the centre of a Twitter storm over allegations of corruption in the organisation. CAF began to trend after it made the announcement that Morocco will play host to the 2021/22 CAF Champions League final.

The decision caused a huge uproar online as Moroccan side, Wydad Casablanca, are one game away from making it to the final. CAF confirmed that Morocco were awarded the hosting rights after the Senegalese Football Federation withdrew their bid, BBC Sport Africa confirmed.

Football fans, Egyptians more notable, reacted angrily to the news and have accused the organisation of being corrupt. Fans were upset that CAF ignored a letter from Al Ahly, asking for a neutral venue.

Authors
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Byron Pillay
Byron Pillay is a sports writer and Head of the Department at Sports Brief (joined in 2022) with over 10 years of experience in community journalism and a degree in journalism from Caxton's Cadet School.
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Patrice MotsepePitso MosimaneSouth Africa