CAF Club Licensing successfully implemented ahead of 2023-24 Interclub season kick-off
As a customary practice preceding the commencement of the CAF Interclubs season, CAF has once again successfully implemented the mandatory Club Licensing System for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2023-24.
All clubs that qualify for CAF Interclub competitions based on sporting merit must be granted a license before they can participate in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
As a result, several clubs have undergone the licensing process at the level of their respective national associations (Licensor) in view of their participation in the CAF Interclubs competitions 2023-24 edition.
The issuance of a license to a club signifies that the said club has fulfilled the requirements outlined in the CAF Club Licensing regulations.
The CAF member association acts as the Licensor and evaluates each club based on five criteria: Sporting, Infrastructure, Personnel and Administrative, Legal, and Financial. For the current cycle, the deadline for the submission of all licensing decisions and documents was June 30, 2023.
USE OF CLOP IS UNDERWAY
For the CAF IC 2023-24 club licensing procedure, CAF has officially introduced the use of the CAF Club Licensing Online Platform (CLOP). This marks the first instance of CLOP being utilized to process applications for clubs intending to participate in the CAF men's interclub competitions for the 2023-24 season, namely the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
The incorporation of CLOP to register clubs this season follows the recent CAF Club Licensing regional workshops that focused on training the users from the 54 CAF Member Associations.
For the 2023-24 cycle, the CAF Member Associations (Licensors) were encouraged to use CLOP to manage the club licensing procedure for the CAF men's interclub competitions. However, CAF also exceptionally accepted the use of the traditional method.
CAF's Head of Professional Football, Muhammad Sidat, commented: "This marks a significant milestone for the club licensing system in Africa since its inception in 2012. It's a historic moment for CAF, the member associations, and clubs. The 2023-24 season serves as the official commencement of using CLOP specifically in CAF interclub competitions, thus we anticipate an adaptation period for users. Despite this transitional phase, we've already seen positive engagement from member associations, with a total of 17 national associations utilizing CLOP to complete the licensing process for the CAF Interclub 2023-24. There's considerable excitement surrounding this new CAF online system, which undoubtedly contributes to the professionalization of clubs and competitions. CAF will ensure technical support during the implementation process at both continental and national levels."
The CAF Club Licensing Online Platform (CLOP) is an electronic tool designed to oversee the licensing process and stadium inspections for continental and domestic competitions.
A total of 54 clubs from 42 CAF member associations have been granted licenses for the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2023-24 edition.
For the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2023-24 edition, a total of 52 clubs representing 41 member associations have obtained licenses at the level of their respective Member Associations and will partake in the competition. It's worth noting that Hay El Arab club from Sudan has chosen to withdraw from the competition.
The first-leg matches of the 1st preliminary rounds are set to commence on September 18, with the return matches scheduled for a week later.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League - LIST OF LICENSED CLUBS - 2023/24
TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup - LIST OF LICENSED CLUBS 2023:24