Some 53 clubs will feature in the 2009 edition of the African Champions League while 45 will participate in the Confederation Cup, according to Africa soccer’s governing body CAF.
CAF said the growing interest in the continent’s two club competitions was an indication of their growing importance, following their reforms and the higher financial rewards attached to them.
Among the teams that will feature in the Champions League 2009 are defending champion Al Ahly of Egypt, losing finalist Coton Sport of Cameroon, Ghana’s Ashanti Kotoko, Etoile du Sahel and Club Africain of Tunisia, ASEC and Africa Sports of Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria’s Jeunesse Sportive of Kabylie, FAR Rabat of Morocco and Al Hilal of Sudan
Also, among the clubs for the 2009 edition of the Confederation Cup are little known teams like Khalij Sert (Libya), Mundu FC (Zanzibar), Malanti Chiefs (Swaziland), Atletico Musulmano (Mozambique), AS Vacoas Phoenix (Mauritius), l’OC Bukavu Dawa (DR Congo), Jeunesse Club d’Abidjan Treichville (Cote d’Ivoire) and AS Vacoas Phoenix (Mauritius Island).
CS Sfaxien of Tunisia is the Confederation Cup defending champion.
