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.
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.
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.
TeamZonePrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners) Wydad ACUNAF (North Africa)3 (1992, 2011, 2017) Espérance de TunisUNAF (North Africa)7 (1994, 1999, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018)
Venues
Road to the final
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away). Wydad ACRound Espérance de TunisOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legQualifying roundsOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg ASC Diaraf3–3 (a)2–0 (H)1–3 (A)First roundByeOpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult ASEC Mimosas5–2 (H)Matchday 1 Horoya1–1 (A) Mamelodi Sundowns1–2 (A)Matchday 2 FC Platinum2–0 (H) Lobi Stars1–0 (A)Matchday 3 Orlando Pirates0–0 (A) Lobi Stars0–0 (H)Matchday 4 Orlando Pirates2–0 (H) ASEC Mimosas0–2 (A)Matchday 5 Horoya2–0 (H) Mamelodi Sundowns1–0 (H)Matchday 6 FC Platinum2–1 (A)Group A winnersFinal standingsGroup B winnersOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legKnockout stageOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg Horoya5–00–0 (A)5–0 (H)Quarter-finals CS Constantine6–33–2 (A)3–1 (H) Mamelodi Sundowns2–12–1 (H)0–0 (A)Semi-finals TP Mazembe1–01–0 (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 Marriott Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.
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.
Matches
First leg
GK 26 Ahmed Reda TagnaoutiRB 28 Abdelatif NoussirCB 3 Achraf Dari CB 29 Cheick ComaraLB 22 Ayoub El Amloud RM 7 Mohamed OunajemCM 4 Salaheddine SaidiCM 6 Brahim Nekkach (c) LM 11 Ismail El HaddadCF 18 Walid El Karti CF 9 Michael Babatunde Substitutes:GK 12 Badreddine BenachourDF 8 Badr Gaddarine MF 21 Zouhair El MoutarajiMF 24 Yahya Jabrane FW 17 Badie AoukFW 20 Ayman El Hassouni FW 25 Gabriel OkechukwuManager: Faouzi Benzarti GK 1 Moez Ben Cherifia RB 22 Sameh Derbali CB 5 Chamseddine Dhaouadi CB 12 Khalil Chemmam (c)LB 20 Ayman Ben MohamedCM 30 Franck Kom CM 15 Fousseny CoulibalyRW 8 Anice BadriAM 25 Ghailene Chaalali LW 10 Youcef Belaïli CF 29 Junior Lokosa Substitutes:GK 23 Ali JemalDF 6 Mohamed Ali YacoubiDF 26 Houcine RabiiMF 17 Hamdou Elhouni MF 18 Saad Bguir MF 28 Mohamed Amine MeskiniFW 11 Taha Yassine Khenissi Manager: Moïne Chaâbani
Assistant referees: Waleed Ahmed (Sudan) Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria) Fourth official: Bernard Camille (Seychelles)Match rules 90 minutes. Seven named substitutes, of which up to three may be used.
Second leg
GK 19 Rami JridiRB 22 Sameh DerbaliCB 6 Mohamed Ali YacoubiCB 12 Khalil Chemmam (c)LB 20 Ayman Ben MohamedCM 15 Fousseny Coulibaly CM 30 Franck KomRW 8 Anice BadriAM 18 Saad BguirLW 10 Youcef Belaïli CF 11 Taha Yassine KhenissiSubstitutes:GK 23 Ali JemalDF 24 Iheb MbarkiDF 26 Houcine RabiiMF 17 Hamdou Elhouni MF 28 Mohamed Amine MeskiniFW 14 Haythem JouiniFW 29 Junior LokosaManager: Moïne Chaâbani GK 26 Ahmed Reda TagnaoutiRB 28 Abdelatif Noussir (c)CB 30 Mohamed NahiriCB 29 Cheick ComaraLB 22 Ayoub El AmloudDM 4 Salaheddine SaidiRM 11 Ismail El HaddadCM 18 Walid El KartiCM 24 Yahya JabraneLM 17 Badie AoukCF 20 Ayman El HassouniSubstitutes:GK 12 Badreddine BenachourDF 8 Badr GaddarineMF 2 Anas El AsbahiMF 9 Michael BabatundeMF 21 Zouhair El MoutarajiFW 19 Amin TighazouiFW 25 Gabriel OkechukwuManager: Faouzi Benzarti
Assistant referees: Djibril Camara (Senegal) El Hadji Samba (Senegal) Fourth official: Joshua Bondo (Botswana)Match rules 90 minutes. Penalty shoot-out if tied on aggregate and away goals. Seven named substitutes, of which up to three may be used.
See also 2019 CAF Confederation Cup Final 2020 CAF Super Cup
Notes
References
External links Total CAF Champions League 2018/2019, CAFonline.com