Why defending the CAF Champions League is easier than the Confederation Cup
by Ayeh Offei-Akoto · MyNewsGh.comThe new TotalEnergies CAF Interclub season starts this weekend, with Mamelodi Sundowns and USM Alger hoping to defend their titles in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
Both clubs have received byes through the First Preliminary Round and will join their competitions at the next stage. However, history shows that defending a continental title is not easy.
Looking at the last 10 completed title-defence campaigns, from 2017 to 2025/26, there is a clear difference between the defending champions in CAF’s two major club competitions.
In the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, defending champions have performed strongly.
All of the last 10 champions reached at least the quarter-finals in the following season. Six reached the semi-finals, five returned to the final and three successfully defended their titles.
This means the defending champion reached the final in five of the last 10 editions and won the competition again three times.
The first successful title defence came from Espérance Sportive de Tunis. After winning the 2018 title against Al Ahly, they returned in the shortened 2018/19 competition and beat Wydad Casablanca to retain the trophy.
Al Ahly have since defended the Champions League title twice.
The Egyptian giants won the 2019/20 title against Zamalek and then beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in the 2020/21 final to win back-to-back titles.
Their attempt to win three titles in a row ended in the 2021/22 final when Wydad Casablanca beat them 2-0.
Al Ahly started another title-winning run after beating Wydad 3-2 on aggregate in the 2022/23 final.
They successfully defended the title in 2023/24 by beating Espérance 1-0 on aggregate. However, their attempt to win three titles in a row was ended by Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2024/25 semi-finals.
There have also been close attempts by other clubs.
Wydad followed their 2021/22 title by reaching the final again the next season, but lost to Al Ahly.
Last season, Pyramids FC became the 10th straight defending champion to reach at least the quarter-finals. Their title defence ended when AS FAR beat them 3-2 on aggregate.
The situation is different in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
Simply looking at how far the defending champions went the following season does not tell the full story. This is because winning the Confederation Cup does not always mean returning to defend the trophy.
Four champions during the 10-season period instead qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League the following season.
TP Mazembe followed their 2017 Confederation Cup success by playing in the 2018 Champions League. They reached the quarter-finals before losing to Primeiro de Agosto on away goals.
Zamalek won the 2018/19 Confederation Cup and then went even further in the Champions League the following season. They reached the final but lost 2-1 to Egyptian rivals Al Ahly.
Raja Casablanca also moved into the Champions League after winning the 2020/21 Confederation Cup.
They reached the 2021/22 Champions League quarter-finals, where eventual finalists Al Ahly beat them 3-2 on aggregate.
More recently, RS Berkane won their third Confederation Cup title in 2024/25. They also won their first Moroccan league title, which earned them a place in the Champions League instead of returning to defend their Confederation Cup crown.
They reached the semi-finals in their first Champions League group-stage campaign before losing 2-1 on aggregate to AS FAR.
This means every Confederation Cup champion in the last 10 seasons that moved into the Champions League reached at least the quarter-finals.
Of the six champions that returned to defend the Confederation Cup, only one successfully retained the trophy.
TP Mazembe defended their title in 2017 by beating SuperSport United in the final to win back-to-back Confederation Cup titles. Since then, no club has successfully defended the trophy.
Raja Casablanca were eliminated in the group stage in 2018/19, while RS Berkane suffered the same fate in 2020/21.
Berkane’s next title defence ended even earlier. US Monastir beat them 1-0 on aggregate in the Play-Off Round in 2022/23.
USM Alger came closest in recent years. Their first title defence in 2023/24 took them to the semi-finals, where the tie was awarded to RS Berkane.
Zamalek reached the quarter-finals the following season, but South African club Stellenbosch FC eliminated the holders.
USM Alger now have another chance to end the long wait for a successful Confederation Cup title defence.
How TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Holders Fared the Following Season
Mamelodi Sundowns (2016)
Next season: Quarter-finals. Eliminated by Wydad Casablanca on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw.
Wydad Casablanca (2017)
Next season: Quarter-finals. Eliminated 1-0 on aggregate by ES Sétif.
Espérance Sportive de Tunis (2018)
Next season: Winners. Successfully retained the title.
Espérance Sportive de Tunis (2018/19)
Next season: Quarter-finals. Eliminated 3-2 on aggregate by Zamalek.
Al Ahly (2019/20)
Next season: Winners. Successfully retained the title.
Al Ahly (2020/21)
Next season: Runners-up. Lost 2-0 to Wydad Casablanca in the final.
Wydad Casablanca (2021/22)
Next season: Runners-up. Lost 3-2 on aggregate to Al Ahly.
Al Ahly (2022/23)
Next season: Winners. Successfully retained the title.
Al Ahly (2023/24)
Next season: Semi-finals. Eliminated by Mamelodi Sundowns on away goals after a 1-1 aggregate draw.
Pyramids FC (2024/25)
Next season: Quarter-finals. Eliminated 3-2 on aggregate by AS FAR.
How TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Holders Fared the Following Season
TP Mazembe (2016)
Next season: Winners. Successfully retained the Confederation Cup.
TP Mazembe (2017)
Next season: Did not defend. Competed in the CAF Champions League.
Raja Casablanca (2018)
Next season: Group stage.
Zamalek (2018/19)
Next season: Did not defend. Competed in the CAF Champions League.
RS Berkane (2019/20)
Next season: Group stage.
Raja Casablanca (2020/21)
Next season: Did not defend. Competed in the CAF Champions League.
RS Berkane (2021/22)
Next season: Play-Off Round. Eliminated 1-0 on aggregate by US Monastir.
USM Alger (2022/23)
Next season: Confederation Cup semi-finals. Eliminated, with the tie awarded to RS Berkane.
Zamalek (2023/24)
Next season: Confederation Cup quarter-finals. Eliminated by Stellenbosch FC.
RS Berkane (2024/25)
Next season: Did not defend. Competed in the CAF Champions League.
Source: MyNewsGh.com
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