Whilst many football fans will be hugely knowledgeable about the UEFA Champions League, far fewer are conversant with the African equivalent. The African Champions League, known this year as the 2017 Total CAF Champions League, is the 53rd time the competition has been held.
The top African club sides slug it out from February to November, battling for continental supremacy, glory and a spot at the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup. In the past 30 years or so this event has been dominated by clubs from North Africa and, in particular, Egypt. Egypt’s national team has won the Africa Cup of Nations four times since 1998, with Tunisia also triumphing in 2004, so perhaps that should come as no real surprise.
The CAF Champions League is not hugely watched or bet on in the UK and Europe. However, it is growing and in an increasingly global world it is worth considering if you’ve never before taken an interest. With games taking place in June and July it is a great option for those who find the summer months without major football all too long and dull.
If you do want to bet on the African Champions League, be sure to check out our live odds comparison. Whenever odds are available we’ll have the best of them right there, comparing prices from all the best betting sites so you don’t have to. As well as the match odds for each and every game, we’ll have a range of other odds too.
The final will be a two-legged affair taking place on the 27-29 October and the 3-5 November. Before then we have, of course, the semis and we’re currently at the quarter final stage (at the time of writing).
The eight sides left are Al-Ahli Tripoli of Libya, Étoile du Sahel and Espérance de Tunis of Tunisia, Egypt’s Al-Ahly, Mozambican side Ferroviário Beira, USM Alger of Algiers, Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca.
The quarter finals will take place in September so we have a little wait before the African Champions League resumes. That gives you time to do your research though and decide who you fancy will be the outright winner of the 2017 CAF showpiece.
No side was truly dominant in the group phase this year. Whilst Espérance de Tunis were unbeaten and topped their group, they drew three games. None of the eight quarterfinalists took more than 12 points from 18 available and it really could be any of the remaining clubs that goes on to glory.
Mamelodi Sundowns are the defending champions and many are sure to fancy them. Equally Al Ahly are the most successful side in the history of the event with eight wins. That includes success in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2013.
Overall we just think that Espérance de Tunis might be the side to opt for. They have been runners up three times since 2000 but won in 2011 and we’re backing them for a third CAF Champions League trophy.