The2020–21 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds were played from 28 November 2020 to 6 January 2021.[1][2] A total of 54 teams competed in the qualifying rounds to decide the 16 places in thegroup stage of the2020–21 CAF Champions League.[3]
The draw for the qualifying rounds was held on 9 November 2020 at the CAF headquarters inCairo,Egypt.[4][5]
The entry round of the 54 teams entered into the draw was determined by their performances in the CAF competitions for the previous five seasons (CAF 5-year ranking points shown in parentheses).
In the qualifying rounds, each tie was played on a home-and-awaytwo-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, theaway goals rule would be applied, and if still tied,extra time would not be played, and thepenalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations III. 13 & 14).[3]
^The preliminary round second leg match betweenAshanti de Siguiri andStade Malien could not be played after 4 of the 17 players from Ashanti de Siguiri tested positive for COVID-19. Thus, Ashanti de Siguiri were not able to name the required 15 players for holding the match, and subsequently, Stade Malien were awarded a technical 2–0 victory for the second leg by CAF in accordance with the regulations related to COVID-19.[6][7]
^Al Ahly Benghazi won on walkover after Mekelle 70 Enderta were not able to present themselves with 15 players (including 1 goalkeeper) for the first leg in Cairo citing theTigray conflict.[8][9]
^Gazelle won on walkover after GR/SIAF failed to appear for the first leg in N'Djamena.[10][11]
^The preliminary round second leg match betweenFC Nouadhibou andAsante Kotoko could not be played after 2 of the 16 players from FC Nouadhibou tested positive for COVID-19. Thus, FC Nouadhibou were not able to name the required 15 players for holding the match, and subsequently, Asante Kotoko were awarded a technical 2–0 victory for the second leg by CAF in accordance with the regulations related to COVID-19.[12][13]
Al Ahly Benghazi won on walkover after Mekelle 70 Enderta were not able to present themselves with 15 players (including 1 goalkeeper) for the first leg in Cairo citing theTigray conflict.[8][9]
The first round, also called the second preliminary round, included 32 teams: the 10 teams that received byes to this round, and the 22 winners of the preliminary round.
^Gazelle failed to appear for the first leg in Cairo following disputes between the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the country and theChadian Football Federation, which prevented the club from traveling to Egypt. As a result, Gazelle were disqualified from the competition by CAF, and Zamalek won on walkover.[16][17]
^The first round second leg match betweenAsante Kotoko andAl Hilal could not be played after 7 players from Asante Kotoko tested positive for COVID-19. Thus, Asante Kotoko were not able to name the required 15 players for holding the match, and subsequently, Al Hilal were awarded a technical 2–0 victory for the second leg by CAF in accordance with the regulations related to COVID-19.[18][19]
^The preliminary round second leg match betweenAshanti de Siguiri andStade Malien could not be played after 4 of the 17 players from Ashanti de Siguiri tested positive for COVID-19. Thus, Ashanti de Siguiri were not able to name the required 15 players for holding the match, and subsequently, Stade Malien were awarded a technical 2–0 victory for the second leg by CAF in accordance with the regulations related to COVID-19.[6][7]
^Teams from Somalia played their home matches outside the country due to security concerns from theongoing civil war.
^abcTeams from Libya played their home matches outside the country due to security concerns from theongoing civil war.
^The preliminary round second leg match betweenFC Nouadhibou andAsante Kotoko could not be played after 2 of the 16 players from FC Nouadhibou tested positive for COVID-19. Thus, FC Nouadhibou were not able to name the required 15 players for holding the match, and subsequently, Asante Kotoko were awarded a technical 2–0 victory for the second leg by CAF in accordance with the regulations related to COVID-19.[12][13]
^The MC Alger v Buffles du Borgou match, originally scheduled to be played on 5 December 2020, was postponed due to unavailability of direct flights from Benin to Algeria, which prevented Buffles du Borgou from appearing for the match in time.[14] The match was later rescheduled to be played on 19 December 2020.[15]
^The first round second leg match betweenAsante Kotoko andAl Hilal could not be played after 7 players from Asante Kotoko tested positive for COVID-19. Thus, Asante Kotoko were not able to name the required 15 players for holding the match, and subsequently, Al Hilal were awarded a technical 2–0 victory for the second leg by CAF in accordance with the regulations related to COVID-19.[18][19]
^The MC Alger v CS Sfaxien match, originally scheduled to be played on 22 or 23 December 2020, was rescheduled to be played on 28 December following the postponement of the preliminary round second leg match between MC Alger andBuffles du Borgou from 5 to 19 December 2020.[14]
^The CR Belouizdad v Gor Mahia match, originally scheduled to be played on 23 December 2020, was rescheduled to be played on 26 December due to locked airspace in Kenya as a consequence of theCOVID-19 pandemic in Kenya, which prevented Gor Mahia from traveling to Algeria in time of the original date.[21][22]
Ashanti de Siguiri
Stade Malien
Wydad AC
Gambia Armed Forces
Teungueth
RC Abidjan (a)
ASKO Kara
AS SONIDEP
Mogadishu City
Al Ahly
Al Ahly Benghazi
Mekelle 70 Enderta
Espérance de Tunis
Gazelle
GR/SIAF
Forest Rangers
AS Bouenguidi
TP Mazembe
Jwaneng Galaxy
US Zilimadjou
Mamelodi Sundowns
Young Buffaloes (a)
Le Messager Ngozi
PWD Bamenda
1º de Agosto
AS Otohô
Al Merrikh
Enyimba
Rahimo
FC Nouadhibou
Asante Kotoko
Vipers
Buffles du Borgou
MC Alger
Mlandege
Bantu
Akonangui
Costa do Sol
FC Platinum
Simba
Gor Mahia
APR
