The 6th edition of Arab Champions League, The 2008–2009 is going to play as a knockout stage from 35 clubs, The Algerian club ES Sétif entered automatically as 2007–08 champion.
Format Each federation enter with (1~2) teams from their top Leagues – The teams must be one of the top 5 teams in the latest season, or Cup Champions/Runners-up.
The Number of teams of each federation enters based on the previous editions results of the Arab Champions League The official sponsor ART can choose the rest teams to complete the 32 teams, so it may can reach 3 teams from one country – It's not necessary to be one of the top 5 teams.
The Algerian club ES Sétif entered automatically as 2007–08 champion.
Participated teams 35 clubs will be competing from the following countries.
Asia (1) Busaiteen (Bahraini PL 2007-08 Runners-up) (1) Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Iraqi Premier League 2007-08 3rd Place) (3) Al-Wahdat (Jordan League 2007–08 Champion) Al-Faisaly (Jordan League 2007–08 Runners-up) Shabab Al-Ordon (Jordan League 2007–08 3rd Place) (3) Kuwait SC (Kuwaiti PL 2007-08 Champion) Al-Qadisiya (Kuwaiti PL 2007-08 Runners-up) Al Arabi Kuwait (Kuwaiti PL 2007-08 4th Place) (1) Al-Ansar (LPL 2007–08 Runners-up) (0) Withdraw (1) Dhofar (2007-08 Omani League Runners-up) (1) Taraji Wadi Al-Nes (West Bank League 2007–08 Champion) (2) Al-Hazm (Saudi Champions Cup 2007–08 3rd Place) Al-Wahda Mecca (Saudi PL 2007-08 Wild-card) (2) Al-Ittihad Aleppo (Syrian PL 2007-08 3rd Place) Al-Taliya (Syrian PL 2007-08 4th Place) (1) Al-Shaab (UAE League 2007–08 5th Place) (1) Al-Hilal Al-Sahili (Yemeni League 2007–08 Champion)
Africa (3) ES Sétif (Arab CL 2007–08 Champions, Algerian CN 2007–08 3rd Place) USM Alger (Algerian CN 2007–08 4th place) USM Annaba (Algerian CN 2007–08 Wild-card) (1) Jakam (Representing Comoros) (1) FC Société Immobilière de Djibouti (Djibouti PL 2007-08 Champion) (1) Ismaily SC (Egyptian PL 2007-08 Runner-up) (2) Al-Ittihad Tripoli (Libyan PL 2007-08 Champions) Al-Ahly Tripoli (Libyan PL 2007-08 Runner-up) (1) ASC Nasr de Sebkha (Representing Mauritania) (3) Raja Casablanca (Botola 2007-08 3rd Place)Hassania Agadir (Botola 2007-08 4th Place) Wydad Casablanca (Botola 2007-08 Wild-card) (1) SITT Daallo (Representing Somalia) (2) Al-Hilal Club (Omdurman) (Sudan PL 2007-2008 Champion) Al-Merrikh (Sudan PL 2007-2008 Runner-up) (3) Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Ligue 1 2007–08 3rd Place)US Monastir (Ligue 1 2007–08 4th Place) CS Sfaxien (Ligue 1 2007–08 Wild-card)
The System The Qualifying: Knock out stage Round 32: Knock out stage Round 16: Knock out stage Round 8: Knock out stage Semifinals and final: Knock out stage
The Awards The Champions: 1,000,000 $ The Runner-up: 650,000 $ Round 4: 200,000 $ Round 8: 100,000 $ Round 16: 40,000 $ Round 32: 20,000 $ Qualifying: 5,000 $
The qualifying Stage 4 teams play 1 leg match as Knock out stage. 1 team qualify to the next stage (Round 32).
Round 32 32 teams play home and away matches as Knock out stage.
1 The Kuwaiti clubs' matches canceled due to FIFA's freezing of the membership of the Kuwait Football Association.FIFA freezing the membership of the Kuwait Football Association (Kooora) 2 Al-Shaab withdrew.Al-Merrikh goes straight through – Al-Shaab withdrew (Kooora)
Round 32 Matches Dates The first legs on 28 and 29 October 2008 The second legs on 25 and 26 November 2008
Round 16 16 teams play home and away matches as Knock out stage.
Qualified teams
ES Sétif USM Alger Ismaily Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Al-Faisaly Al-Wahdat Raja Casablanca Wydad Casablanca Al-Hazm Al-Hilal Club (Omdurman) Al-Merrikh Al-Ittihad Aleppo Espérance Sportive de Tunis CS Sfaxien US Monastir Al-Hilal Al-Sahili
Round 16 Matches
1 Al-Hilal Omdurman withdrew.Entente Sportive de Sétif goes straight through – Al-Hilal Omdurman withdrew (Kooora)
Round 16 Matches Dates The first legs on 16 December 2008 The second legs on 26 December 2008
Quarter-finals 8 teams play home and away matches as Knock out stage.
Qualified teams
ES Sétif Ismaily Al-Faisaly Al-Wahdat Wydad Casablanca CS Sfaxien Espérance Sportive de Tunis US Monastir
Quarter-finals Matches
Quarter-final Match Dates The first legs between 1 March 2009 and 4 March 2009 The second legs between 19 March 2009 and 21 March −2009
Semi-finals 4 teams play home and away matches as Knock out stage.
Semi-finals Matches
First Legs
Second Legs
Final
First leg
Second leg
Champions
Arab Champions League 2008–09WinnersEspérance Sportive de TunisSecond Title
Top scorers
RankNameTeamGoals1 Abdelmalek Ziaya ES Sétif5 Mahmoud Shelbaieh Al-Wihdat Rafik Abdessamad Al-Wahda2 Mustapha Bidoudane Wydad Casablanca4 Mustafa Karim Ismaily Haikel Gmamdia CS Sfaxien Ra'fat Ali Al-Wihdat Abdallah Said Ismaily Michael Eneramo Espérance Hichem Essifi US Monastir3 Oussama Darragi Espérance3 Wajdi Bouazzi Espérance Hassan Taïr Raja Casablanca Abdelhameed Amarri Al-Merreikh Mohab Said Ismaily414 players2554 players1 Source: Goalzz.com
References
External links Arab Champions' League 2008/09 rsssf.com Official website