The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said a five-year ranking is going to be used to determine the number of clubs that each CAF member association may enter in the region’s club competitions.
The associations ranked in the top 12 (or tied for twelfth) may enter two sides into each of the two continental competitions, while the remaining associations are limited to a single side in each competition.
The ranking done by football statisticians shows that Zimbabwe is one of the countries that will get two slots, basing on their club’s performances in the last five years. Zimbabwe is ranked on ninth position with 18 points.
The rankings are led by Tunisia, who have garnered 97 points owing to the success of their clubs, namely ES Sahel and Club Africain, in the Champions League. In second place is Egypt with 81 points due to the performances of super clubs like Al Ahly and Ismaily SC. Clubs garner points starting from the group stages.
CAF said it “calculates points on the club’s performances in the Orange Champions League and Orange Confederation and not taking into consideration the running year”. The statisticians say this put Zimbabwe in good stead to get another slot in the Champions League, owing to the success of Dynamos and Monomotapa in the last five years.
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DYNAMOS UNDER CHIWESHE
Dynamos, under the tutelage of Elvis “Chuchu” Chiweshe, reached the group stages of the Champions League in 2010. In 2009, DeMbare, under David “Yogi” Mandigora also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. The Glamour Boys lost the first-semi final tie 0-1 to Cameroon’s Coton Sport before going down 0-4 in the second leg.
Monoz reached group stages
Another Zimbabwe club, Monomotapa, also recorded a good performance in 2009 when they reached the group stages of the Champions League. The ship was steered by Rodrick Dhlakama.
Highlanders recorded the country’s worst performance in the last five years in 2007. Al Ahly knocked Highlanders 0-2 under Methembe Ndlovu in the second round of the Champions League. CAPS United did not garner any points for Zimbabwe after they were disqualified in the first round in 2006 for fielding an ineligible player. Makepekepe had started their campaign very well in the Champions League drawing 3-all with Burundi’s Inter Stars before being disqualified for fielding ineligible players, Malawian imports Gift Makoloni and George Martin.
Zimbabwe got an extra Champions League last year owing to the performances of Dynamos in the Champions League. This saw league champions Motor Action and Dynamos representing the country.
