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African Champions League Final Moves to Single-Match Format Following Controversy
Thursday 18 July 2019, by
The Champions League final will no longer be played in a two-leg home-and-away format but, from now on, in a single match on neutral ground, starting in 2020. This decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) follows the controversy that arose from the last final, which tarnished the image of African football.
On his Twitter account, Ahmad Ahmad expresses his satisfaction with this collective decision. For the CAF President, this "courageous" choice will take effect as early as next season’s League and CAF Cup.
The final of the 2019 edition of the African Champions League, between Casablanca’s "Wydad" and Tunis’ "Espérance", had been marked by controversies over refereeing, following the breakdown of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). While it had initially endorsed the Tunisians’ triumph, CAF chose in early June to have this match replayed sine die and on neutral ground. The two clubs have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which must render its decision by July 31.