CAF Champions League 2024-25 Predictions & Betting tips
Join us at SportyTrader, where we unravel expert insights and provide accurate predictions as we journey into the heart of African club footballing excellence - the CAF Champions League 2024-25!
CAF Champions League 2024-25 presentation and predictions
The CAF Champions League, the crown jewel of African club football, is upon us, and SportyTrader will be covering the marquee event every step of the way through the 2024-25 campaign.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane. The CAF Champions League has an incredible history that dates back 60 years to 1964. Over the years, football clubs from across Africa have battled to be crowned the champions of the continent, but only a few have earned the prestigious title.
Teams like TP Mazembe, Wydad Casablanca, Al-Ahly, and Mamelodi Sundowns have all left an indelible mark on the competition, but the big question remains - who will emerge as the African powerhouse in 2024-25? Find out everything you need to know about Africa’s biggest club football competition below!
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CAF Champions League 2024-25 prediction: who will win the title?
Once again, the title of African champions in the previous season went to the indomitable team from Cairo: Al-Ahly. Their 1-0 aggregate win over ES Tunis in the final marked a record 12th CAF Champions League triumph for the Red Devils, giving them more than double the amount of titles as the next highest (Zamalek and TP Mazembe with 5 each).
With four CAF Champions League trophies in the last five seasons, Al-Ahly will naturally be the team to beat going into the 2024-25 campaign. Will one of the other contenders such as fellow Egyptian club Pyramids or DR Congo side Mazembe step up and wrestle the trophy away this time around? Or perhaps it will be one of the dark horse teams out of South Africa such as 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns or 1995 winners Orlando Pirates?
We can envision a strong season for Congolese club TP Mazembe. Les Corbeaux have been consistently dominating their domestic competition and are coming off a record 20th league title in the Linafoot league. They did extremely well to make the semi-finals last season and were a bit unfortunate to run into a red-hot Al-Ahly. Look for them to yet again make the knockout stages of the 2024-25 season and potentially put together a deep run.
As for Al-Ahly, it's difficult to look past the Egyptian giants from Cairo. They lifted the 2023-24 CAF Champions League title in dominant fashion, conceding only one goal in the entire competition and recording six consecutive clean sheets from the quarter-finals all the way to the final. They are deserving favourites going into the new year and we believe there is a good chance that they retain their crown for a third straight season.
Therefore, our prediction for the CAF Champions League 2024-25: double chance victory for Al-Ahly or TP Mazembe!
CAF Champions League 2024-25 prediction - odds on the favourites for the title
The outright odds have yet to be released for the 2024-25 season. In the meantime, head over to Unibet to see the other betting markets!
What prediction for the top scorer in the CAF Champions League 2024-25?
As we correctly predicted last season, Al-Ahly's Hussein El Shahat went on to claim the top goalscorer award with five goals in 12 appearances. Behind him finished six players level on four goals each, highlighting how tight the competition for this accolade usually is.
We're not expecting that to be any different in the 2024-25 season, meaning it is important to prioritize players on teams who you think will make a deep run in the tournament. This will give your selections the highest amount of potential match opportunities, meaning more time on the pitch to score goals. Here is a list of players to keep an eye on:
- Hussein El Shahat (Al-Ahly)
- Kahraba (Al-Ahly)
- Pacome Zouzoua (Young Africans)
- Cheick Fofana (TP Mazembe)
- Peter Shalulile (Sundowns)
- Lucas Ribeiro (Sundowns)
- Rodrigo Rodrigues (ES Tunis)
- Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates)
- Ramadan Sobhi (Pyramids)
- Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids)
With Al-Ahly expected to once again make a run to the final, one of their players is likely to have a good shot at winning the top goalscorer award. Either Red Devils striker Kahraba or last season's winner, Hussein El Shahat, should be good bets as they are set to once again play a big part for the defending champions.
CAF Champions League top scorer odds
At the moment, the odds for the CAF Champions League top scorer are not available. In the meantime, we recommend checking out Bet365 to see the other betting markets that are available.
CAF Champions League 2024-25 groups
The qualification stage is complete and the four groups have been decided! Below we break down each group and offer a prediction on which teams will make it to the knockout stages.
Group A: Al-Hilal Club (Sudan), MC Alger (Algeria), Mazembe (DR Congo), Young Africans (Tanzania)
First up is a competitive Group A containing TP Mazembe, Al-Hilal Club, MC Alger and Young Africans. The standout team in this bunch is Mazembe, who will come in as the favorites to top the group.
Despite being off to a slow start in their domestic league, the Congolese champions have an impressive pedigree in this competition. They’ve lifted the coveted CAF Champions League trophy on five occasions with the most recent coming in 2015.
Behind them, all three remaining teams will likely fancy their chances for the second qualification spot. We’re backing the Tanzanian champions Young Africans, who are off to a strong start in the new season, to secure a top two finish.
Our Group A prediction: TP Mazembe to finish top!
Group B: AS FAR (Morocco), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), AS Maniema Union (DR Congo), Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
Group B sees AS FAR, AS Maniema Union, Raja Casablanca and the 2016 champions Mamelodi Sundowns. As one of the top favorites to win this competition, South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns will be expected to finish top of the group.
They cruised through their qualifying match with an 8-0 aggregate scoreline and already look to be in top form with three wins from three in the South African PSL.
Moroccan club Raja Casablanca will be confident of progressing to the group stages with a second-place finish the most likely result. There’s an interesting dynamic at play as they are drawn alongside another Moroccan club in AS FAR. Raja beat out AS FAR by a single point for the Botola Pro title last season and became the first ever team to go unbeaten with their 21-9-0 record.
Our Group B prediction: Mamelodi Sundowns to finish top!
Group C: Al-Ahly (Egypt), CR Belouizdad (Algeria), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Stade d’Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
Three former CAF Champions League winners comprise a tricky Group C as reigning champions Al-Ahly, CR Belouizdad, Orlando Pirates and Stade d’Abidjan face off.
Winners of four of the last five CAF Champions League trophies, Al-Ahly are the logical choice to finish top of this group. The Egyptians have dominated this competition over the last decade and only once in the past eight years have they failed to make it to the final.
Fighting for second-place will be between CR Belouizdad, who rank 10th in the CAF 5-year ranking, and 1995 champions Orlando Pirates. This draw will also serve up a rematch of the 2013 final in which Al-Ahly beat out Orlando Pirates to deny the South African club their second CAF Champions League title.
Our Group C prediction: Al-Ahly to finish top!
Group D: Djoliba AC (Mali), ES Tunis (Tunisia), Pyramids (Egypt), Sagrada Esperança (Angola)
Finally, Group D in the 2024/25 CAF Champions League sees last season’s runners-up ES Tunis drawn alongside Pyramids, Djoliba AC and Sagrada Esperança.
ES Tunis have been one of the continent's top contending teams to Al-Ahly’s dominance over the last 10 years. The 2018 and 2019 champions lost out to the Egyptians last season, but have many tipping them at a return to the final.
The other qualification spot will be a two-way battle between Pyramids and Angolan club Sagrada Esperança. Pyramids are a legitimate threat now and have experienced sustained success over the last five years. They finished as runners-up in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2020 as well three straight second-place finishes in the Egyptian Premier League. The Cairo-based club got their first ever taste of silverware last season when they lifted the Egyptian Cup.
Now as one of Africa’s most valuable clubs, Pyramids should be able to take the next step and make it to the knockout rounds for the first time in club history.
Our Group D prediction: ES Tunis to finish top!
Beginners Guide to how the CAF Champions League 2024-25 works
The CAF Champions League is structured to determine the best club team in Africa through a series of knockout rounds and group-stage matches.
CAF Champions League format:
- Qualification: This is where it all begins. Teams qualify for the CAF Champions League based on their performance in their respective domestic leagues. The greater an association's ranking, determined by the specified criteria, results in a higher number of teams representing the association in the Champions League and reduces the number of qualification rounds its teams are required to participate in.
- Preliminary Round: Before the actual group stage of the competition, there is a preliminary round where teams play knockout ties, and the winners advance. There are two rounds, with each round consisting of a two-legged, home and away structure. The team with the higher aggregate score advances. The second round features 32 teams going head-to-head, and only the 16 winners are allowed to advance to the group stage. The second preliminary round kicks off on September 13-15 for the first legs and sees the return legs set for September 20-22, 2024.
- Group Stage: The 16 qualified teams are divided into four groups containing four teams each. In the group stage, each team plays home and away matches against the other teams in their group. Points are awarded for wins and draws, and the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stages. The group stage is set to began in October 2024, and the draw will be conducted after the end of the second preliminary round. Teams are seeded according to their performances in the CAF competitions for the last five seasons.
- Knockout Stages: This stage commences once the top two teams in each group have been determined after playing against every other side in the group twice. The knockout stages consist of the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the grand final. Teams compete in two-legged ties, playing one match at home and one away. The team with the higher aggregate score over the two legs advances to the next round. The quarter-final is set to be played in March 2025 and the semi-final in April 2025.
- Final: The two best club sides in Africa rise to the top to compete in the Grand Final. The final is also a two-legged encounter held at a neutral venue, and the winner is crowned the CAF Champions League champion. The 2024-25 CAF Champions League final will be played in May 2025.
How to make good predictions on CAF Champions League 2024-25 matches?
While there is no guaranteed method to predict the winners of every match in the CAF Champions League, SportyTrader provides you with a few crucial tips that can give you a competitive edge over the bookmakers.
Here are some of our top tips for making better betting decisions for the CAF Champions League:
- Team Form and Performance
- Key Player Analysis
- Historical Head-to-Head Records
- Home and Away Performance
- Make use of Reliable Data
Tip 1: Team Form and Performance
Consistency in performance is a key indicator of a team's current strength and ability to compete at a high level. Take the time to analyse the recent performance of teams in their domestic leagues and previous CAF Champions League matches. A team in good form is likely to maintain its positive momentum.
Example: If a specific team has won its last five matches in the domestic league and Champions League, that suggests a high level of confidence and form, which is often a crucial factor in determining the expected performance of the side in their next match.
Tip 2: Key Player Analysis
Star players often contribute significantly to a team's success, and their form and influence on the pitch should never be overlooked. Teams that have players ranked among the top for goals scored, assists provided, and clean sheets maintained are excellent ways of determining how the side will fare in their next match. The impact of key players often extends beyond statistics and can greatly affect match outcomes.
Example: If a team’s top scorer has been involved in a high percentage of their goals and currently ranks among the top performers in their role, that player's performance could be a key predictor not just to the outcome of the match but also in terms of individual accolades.
Tip 3: Historical Head-to-Head Records
Arguably the most important of all the tips listed here - analysing past matchups between teams can reveal patterns, strengths, and weaknesses that may persist in future encounters. Due to the country rankings, sides from lower-ranking associations may be dominant in their domestic league but could struggle when facing teams with greater financial means, such as Al-Ahly or Mamelodi Sundowns. If there are no head-to-head records between the sides you are looking at, search for teams that they have faced from the same country for a better understanding of their chances in the contest.
Example: If ES Tunis have never faced Al-Ahly in a previous meeting, consider searching for their performances against Pyramids, who are another Egyptian side in the competition. Pyramids finished behind Al-Ahly last season, and if ES Tunis have struggled against Pyramids, they are likely to find it difficult against Al-Ahly as well.
Tip 4: Home and Away Performance
One of the more common but still effective strategies is to consider the team’s performances at home compared to on the road. Indeed, home-field advantage is a well-known factor in football, and teams' performances in familiar versus unfamiliar environments can differ, usually with home performances being stronger. This is due to a number of factors, but the most obvious is due to their home support and familiarity with the conditions.
Example: If TP Mazembe has an impressive home record with strong fan support, they might have a higher chance of success when playing at home.
Tip 5: Make use of Reliable Data
With the world’s attention likely to be focused on the CAF Champions League, there is a plethora of information available to fans and punters alike. However, it is crucial that you only use reliable sources to guide your betting decisions. SportyTrader is one such source, as our experts take into account all of the points above as well as factors such as injury and suspension updates, the team’s tactical approaches, and even venue and weather conditions in our predictions.
Wherever possible, try using more than one source to maximise your chances of picking a winner!
What not to do for your CAF Champions League 2024-25 predictions
Now that you know what to do before making your betting predictions for the CAF Champions League, it is worth covering the most common pitfalls that you should avoid at all costs:
- Relying solely on team reputation
- Disregarding squad rotation strategies
- Ignoring external distractions such as off-field issues
- Basing predictions solely on fan expectation
- Failing to account for the team’s travel time and potential fixture congestion
- Chasing losses from a previous match by increasing bet size for the next match
- Playing accumulators and parlays with a high number of legs
Making successful predictions in the CAF Champions League requires a nuanced approach, considering a multitude of factors while avoiding common pitfalls. The key is to embrace a holistic view, acknowledging the fluid nature of football dynamics and refraining from exclusive reliance on a single criteria.
CAF Champions League 2024-25 prediction: statistics you need to know
Making use of statistics is vital to finding winning bets. To help with your betting decisions, here are a few key stats from the previously completed season (2023-24):
- Home win percentage: 49%
- Draw percentage: 30%
- Away wins percentage: 20%
- Average goals: 1.92 goals per game
- Over 1.5 goals: 55%
- Over 2.5 goals: 31%
- Over 3.5 goals: 14%
- “Both teams to score: Yes”: 26%
- Average home goals: 1.30 per match
- Average away goals: 0.63 per match
- Percentage of matches with a clean sheet: 93%
- Goal scored in first half: 45%
- Goals scored in second half: 55%
- Most frequent score: 0-0 (18.9% of matches)
- Second most frequent score: 1-0 home team (18.2% of matches)
- Most frequent halftime score: 0-0 (43.5%)
African football is like no other in the world as there is much less of a gulf in class between most sides, barring those ranked 1st - 3rd according to the African Association ranking. As a result, matches between sides in the CAF Champions League tend to be much more level than you would likely see in Europe, Asia or in South America.
As you can see from the above statistics, goals are certainly at a premium in this competition. The Under 2.5 market is often a strong betting option, but be wary of the teams that are playing, as some of them are good at attacking, especially at home. You'll also notice that home field advantage plays a much bigger role in the CAF Champions League with the home win percentage at almost 50%, a figure which even ranks higher than each of the 'big five' European leagues.
In short: how to make the right CAF Champions League predictions?
To make accurate CAF Champions League predictions, consider recent team form, analyse key player performances, and review historical head-to-head records. Assessing home and away dynamics and staying updated on injuries and suspensions are also crucial in making winning predictions.
Avoid relying solely on team reputation, overlooking recent form, and underestimating underdog teams. A comprehensive analysis combining all these factors enhances the likelihood of landing a winner!
And, of course, be sure to make use of SportyTrader's betting predictions to give you a competitive edge over the bookies. Let’s hit them hard for this year’s CAF Champions League!
Our CAF Champions League Predictions of the moment
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Best Odds to bet on CAF Champions League 2024-25
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CAF Champions League 2024-25 : Frequently Asked Questions
The CAF Champions League is an annual continental club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It features the top football clubs from across Africa competing for the title of the best club team on the continent.
Al-Ahly of Cairo is the record CAF Champions League winner with 12 titles under their belt following their most recent triumph. TP Mazembe and Zamalek have won the competition five times each, and ES Tunis have claimed the trophy three times.
CAF Champions League matches are broadcast on various sports networks and streaming platforms. In most countries across Africa, the tournament can be viewed on DSTV or DSTV Now.
If you cannot watch the matches on TV, SportyTrader will be covering every match of the CAF Champions League 2024-25 on our CAF Champions League Livescores page.