2019 CAF Champions League final
The 2019 CAF Champions League Final was the final of the 2018–19 CAF Champions League, the 55th edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the 23rd edition under the current CAF Champions League title.
_2.jpg.webp) ES Tunis were declared champions after second leg was abandoned in Radès Stadium. | |||||||
| Event | 2018–19 CAF Champions League | ||||||
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| First leg | |||||||
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| Date | 24 May 2019 | ||||||
| Venue | Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat | ||||||
| Referee | Gehad Grisha (Egypt) | ||||||
| Second leg | |||||||
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| Match abandoned[note 1] | |||||||
| Date | 31 May 2019 | ||||||
| Venue | Stade Olympique de Radès, Tunis | ||||||
| Referee | Bakary Gassama (Gambia) | ||||||
The final was originally contested in two-legged home-and-away format between Wydad AC from Morocco and defending champions Espérance de Tunis from Tunisia. The first leg was hosted by Wydad AC at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on 24 May 2019, while the second leg was hosted by Espérance de Tunis at the Stade Olympique de Radès in Tunis on 31 May 2019.[1]
Espérance de Tunis were initially declared winners following a refusal by Wydad AC to resume play following an issue with VAR, though CAF later ruled the second leg must be replayed in a neutral venue to decide the champions. However, the decision to order a replay was thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), who told the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to refer the case to its proper disciplinary structures for a decision, and on 7 August 2019, Espérance de Tunis were declared winners for a second time. As winners, they earned the right to play in the 2020 CAF Super Cup and the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup.
Teams
In the following table, finals until 1996 were in the African Cup of Champions Club era, since 1997 were in the CAF Champions League era.
| Team | Zone | Previous finals appearances (bold indicates winners) |
|---|---|---|
 Wydad AC |
UNAF (North Africa) | 3 (1992, 2011, 2017) |
 Espérance de Tunis |
UNAF (North Africa) | 7 (1994, 1999, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018) |
Venues
 Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco hosted the first leg. |
.jpg.webp) Stade Olympique de Radès in Tunis, Tunisia, hosted the second leg. |
Road to the final
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
| Wydad AC |
Round | Espérance de Tunis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | Qualifying rounds | Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 ASC Diaraf |
3–3 (a) | 2–0 (H) | 1–3 (A) | First round | Bye | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opponent | Result | Group stage | Opponent | Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 ASEC Mimosas |
5–2 (H) | Matchday 1 |  Horoya |
1–1 (A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Mamelodi Sundowns |
1–2 (A) | Matchday 2 |  FC Platinum |
2–0 (H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Lobi Stars |
1–0 (A) | Matchday 3 | Orlando Pirates |
0–0 (A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lobi Stars |
0–0 (H) | Matchday 4 | Orlando Pirates |
2–0 (H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASEC Mimosas |
0–2 (A) | Matchday 5 | Horoya |
2–0 (H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mamelodi Sundowns |
1–0 (H) | Matchday 6 | FC Platinum |
2–1 (A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Group A winners
Source: CAF |
Final standings | Group B winners
Source: CAF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | Knockout stage | Opponent | Agg. | 1st leg | 2nd leg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Horoya |
5–0 | 0–0 (A) | 5–0 (H) | Quarter-finals |  CS Constantine |
6–3 | 3–2 (A) | 3–1 (H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mamelodi Sundowns |
2–1 | 2–1 (H) | 0–0 (A) | Semi-finals |  TP Mazembe |
1–0 | 1–0 (H) | 0–0 (A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Format
The final was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, with the order of legs determined by the knockout stage draw, which was held on 20 March 2019, 20:00 CAT (UTC+2), at the Marriot Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.[2][3]
If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would have been applied, and if still tied, extra time would not have been played, and a penalty shoot-out would have been used to determine the winner.[1]
Matches
First leg
| Wydad AC | 1–1 | Espérance de Tunis |
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Report |
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         Wydad AC[4]
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     Espérance de Tunis[4]
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Assistant referees:[4]
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Match rules[1]
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Second leg
| Espérance de Tunis | Abandoned (1-0)[note 1] | Wydad AC |
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Report |
Espérance de Tunis[10]
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Wydad AC[4]
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Assistant referees:
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Match rules[1]
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Notes
- With the score 1–0 in favor of Espérance de Tunis in the 59th minute, Walid El Karti scored a goal for Wydad AC which was subsequently ruled offside by the linesman. Due to a failure of the video assistant referee system, a review of the decision could not be conducted. Believing the goal was valid, Wydad AC protested the decision and the match was interrupted. After 80 minutes of stoppage, the referee ruled the match as a forfeit by Wydad AC and awarded to Espérance de Tunis, securing them the CAF Champions League title.[5] However, on 5 June 2019 the CAF Executive Committee ordered a replay of the second leg at a neutral venue, requiring Espérance de Tunis to return the trophy and medals.[6] However, the decision to order a replay of the second leg was thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 31 July 2019, who required CAF to refer the case to its proper disciplinary structures for a decision.[7] On 7 August 2019, Espérance de Tunis were again officially declared champions after the CAF Disciplinary Board ruled that Wydad AC "is considered to have lost the game in the 2nd leg."[8] On 18 September 2020, CAS dismissed Wydad AC's appeal over the final and confirmed Espérance de Tunis as champions.[9]
References
- "CAF Champions League regulations" (PDF). CAF.
- "Moteab and Mboma to conduct Interclubs quarterfinals draw". CAF. 20 March 2019.
- "Last eight teams know their opponents". CAF. 20 March 2019.
- "Media start list: Wydad Athletic Club – E.S.T." (PDF). CAFonline.com. Confederation of African Football. 24 May 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- "ES Tunis crowned CAF Champions in shambolic circumstances". AS.com. 1 June 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- "Caf Champions League: Esperance ordered to return medals and face Wydad Casablanca again". BBC Sport. 5 June 2019.
- "Le Tribunal Arbitral du Sport (TAS) annule la décision du Comité Exécutif de la CAF" [The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cancels the decision of the CAF Executive Committee] (PDF) (in French). Court of Arbitration for Sport. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- "Decisions of the Disciplinary Board 7th of August 2019". CAF. 7 August 2019.
- "CAS dismisses the appeal of Wydad Athletic Club" (PDF). Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 18 September 2020.
- "Media start list: E.S.T. – Wydad Athletic Club" (PDF). CAFonline.com. Confederation of African Football. 31 May 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.