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2017 Arab Club Championship
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.png) | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Egypt (from group stage onwards) |
| Dates | Qualifying: 14 September 2016 – 4 March 2017 Competition proper: 22 July 2017 – 6 August 2017 |
| Teams | 20 (from 2 confederations) (from 18 associations) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Espérance de Tunis (3rd title) |
| Runners-up |  Al-Faisaly |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 36 |
| Goals scored | 83 (2.31 per match) |
| Attendance | 755,000 (20,972 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Mohamed Fouzair(3 goals) |
← 2012–13 2018–19 → | |
The 2017 Arab Club Championship was the 27th season[note 1] of the Arab World's inter-club football tournament organised by UAFA, and the first season since it was renamed from the UAFA Club Cup to the Arab Club Championship. The competition was won by Tunisian club Espérance de Tunis, who defeated Jordanian side Al-Faisaly 3–2 after extra time in the final to secure a joint-record third title.
Allocation of entries
[edit]The following team entries allocation was announced by the Union of Arab Football Associations on 20 June 2016.[1] Each association was given entry either to the qualifying play-off or to the group stage based on the FIFA World Ranking of the associations on 2 June 2016.[2] Only teams who were champions or runners-up of either their nation's league or one of their nation's cup competitions were allowed to participate in the tournament.
| Participation for 2017 Arab Club Championship | |
|---|---|
| Allocated group stage slot(s) | |
| Allocated qualifying play-off slot | |
| Did not participate | |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Notes
- ^ Qatar were allocated one group stage slot, but chose not to participate due to scheduling difficulties with other tournaments.
- ^ Kuwait were allocated one qualifying play-off slot, but could not participate due to FIFA's suspension of its football association.
- ^ Yemen were allocated one qualifying play-off slot, but did not participate due to the suspension of footballing activity in the country.
- ^ As the tournament's hosts (from the group stage onwards), Egypt were allocated two group stage slots as opposed to one, and Algeria were therefore allocated just one group stage slot rather than two.
- ^ Libya were allocated one qualifying play-off slot, but did not participate due to the suspension of footballing activity in the country.
Teams
[edit]The following 20 teams from 18 associations entered the competition.
- Notes
- ^ Al-Wahda were a late replacement for Al-Ain (2015–16 UAE Pro-League runners-up and 2015–16 UAE President's Cup runners-up), who decided to withdraw from the tournament.
- ^ Not including Al-Faisaly's appearance in the cancelled 1990 edition.
Venues
[edit]The following three venues were chosen to host all matches from the group stage onwards.
| Alexandria | Alexandria | |
|---|---|---|
| Borg El Arab Stadium | Alexandria Stadium | |
| Capacity: 86,000 | Capacity: 13,660 | |
|
| |
| Cairo | ||
| Al Salam Stadium | ||
| Capacity: 30,000 | ||
| ||
Schedule
[edit]The schedule of the competition was as follows.[1][3]
| Stage | Round | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying play-off | Round 1 | 14 September 2016 – 4 March 2017 |
| Round 2 | ||
| Play-off round | ||
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 22 July – 6 August 2017 |
| Matchday 2 | ||
| Matchday 3 | ||
| Knockout stage | Semi-finals | |
| Final |
Qualifying play-off
[edit]The qualifying play-off was held between 14 September 2016 and 4 March 2017. The three winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the nine direct entrants.
Preliminary round 1
[edit]- Asia Zone
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Al-Riffa 
|
1–5 |  Al-Ahed
|
0–1 | 1–4 |
- Africa Zone
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | DJI | DEK | VOL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  ASAS Djibouti Télécom[Note DJI] (H)
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | — | 1–1 | 0–0 | |
| 2 |  Dekedaha
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | — | — | 0–0 | |
| 3 |  Volcan Club
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — |
- Notes
- ^ ASAS Djibouti Télécom qualified via a drawing of lots.
Preliminary round 2
[edit]| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Zone | ||||
| Al-Ahed
|
3–0 |  Shabab Al-Khalil
|
1–0 | 2–0 |
| Africa Zone | ||||
| ASAS Djibouti Télécom
|
1–2 |  Al-Merrikh
|
1–1 | 0–1 |
Play-off round
[edit]| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Zone | ||||
Al-Jaish 
|
0–1 |  Naft Al-Wasat
|
0–0 | 0–1 |
| Al-Ahed
|
6–1 |  Fanja
|
2–1 | 4–0 |
| Africa Zone | ||||
FC Tevragh-Zeina 
|
2–3 | Al-Merrikh
|
0–1 | 2–2 |
Group stage
[edit]From the group stage onwards, the tournament was held in Egypt in the cities of Cairo and Alexandria. Twelve teams participated in the group stage, divided into three groups. The draw for the groups took place on 5 May 2017 in Cairo.[4][5] The top team of each group along with the best runner-up advanced to the semi-finals.
| Tiebreakers |
|---|
If two or more teams were to be equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings would have been determined as follows:
|
- Times listed are UTC+2.
Group A
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Faisaly
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Al-Ahly
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | |
| 3 |  NA Hussein Dey
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 |  Al-Wahda
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 0 |
Source: Soccerway
| NA Hussein Dey | 2–0 | Al-Wahda |
|---|---|---|
Addadi  11'Gasmi 45+1' |
Report |
| Al-Ahly | 0–1 | Al-Faisaly |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Al-Rawashdeh 55' |
| Al-Faisaly | 1–0 | NA Hussein Dey |
|---|---|---|
| Mendy 52' |
Report |
| Al-Wahda | 1–2 | Al-Faisaly |
|---|---|---|
| Batna 41' |
Report | 76' Łukasz 90+2' Zuway |
Referee: Mohammed Darwish (Lebanon)
| Al-Ahly | 2–1 | NA Hussein Dey |
|---|---|---|
| Gomaa 74' (pen.) Barakat 90+2' |
Report | 61' Boulaouidet |
Group B
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fath Union Sport
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 5 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Al-Ahed
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 | |
| 3 | Zamalek
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 |  Al-Nassr
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 1 |
Source: Soccerway
| Fath Union Sport | 4–0 | Al-Nassr |
|---|---|---|
| Fouzair 11', 29' (pen.), 32' (pen.) El-Bahraoui 60' |
Report |
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
| Al-Ahed | 1–1 | Fath Union Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Haidar 54' (pen.) |
Report | 45' Ait Khoursa |
Referee: Youssef Essrayri (Tunisia)
Group C
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espérance de Tunis
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Al-Merrikh
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 4 | |
| 3 | Al-Hilal
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | Naft Al-Wasat
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 1 |
Source: Soccerway
| Naft Al-Wasat | 0–1 | Espérance de Tunis |
|---|---|---|
| Report | 83' Khenissi |
Referee: Ali Lemghaifry (Mauritania)
| Al-Merrikh | 1–1 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Madina 71' |
Report | 26' Al-Dawsari |
Referee: Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)
| Al-Hilal | 2–2 | Naft Al-Wasat |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Qahtani 52' Zabani 58' |
Report | 45+2' Ahmed 80' Sadir |
Referee: Redouane Jiyed (Morocco)
| Espérance de Tunis | 2–0 | Al-Merrikh |
|---|---|---|
| Badri 21', 70' |
Report |
Referee: Ibrahim Nour El Din (Egypt)
| Espérance de Tunis | 3–2 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Matri 45' Jouini 58'Chaalali 74' |
Report | 49' Al-Yami 60' Al-Rashidi |
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
| Al-Merrikh | 2–1 | Naft Al-Wasat |
|---|---|---|
| Abdul-Rahman 23' (pen.) Osunwa 89' |
Report | 2' Ahmed |
Ranking of second-placed teams
[edit]The highest ranked second-placed team from the groups advanced to the knockout stage; the rest were eliminated.
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Al-Ahly
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | B | Al-Ahed
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 | |
| 3 | C | Al-Merrikh
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 4 |
Source: Soccerway
Knockout stage
[edit]Matches were determined by a random draw.
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 2 August – Alexandria | ||||||
| Al-Ahly | 1 | |||||
| 6 August – Alexandria | ||||||
| Al-Faisaly | 2 | |||||
| Al-Faisaly | 2 | |||||
| 3 August – Alexandria | ||||||
| Espérance de Tunis (a.e.t.) | 3 | |||||
| Fath Union Sport | 1 | |||||
| Espérance de Tunis (a.e.t.) | 2 | |||||
Semi-finals
[edit]| Al-Ahly | 1–2 | Al-Faisaly |
|---|---|---|
| Oualid Azaro 90+9' |
Report | 26' Mendy 37' (o.g.) Fathy |
Referee: Ali Lemghaifry (Mauritania)
| Fath Union Sport | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Espérance de Tunis |
|---|---|---|
| Semmoumy 28' |
Report | 47' Chemmam 95' (pen.) Khenissi |
Final
[edit]| Al-Faisaly | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Espérance de Tunis |
|---|---|---|
| Zuway 72' Attiah 88' |
Report | 46', 54' Bguir 101' Dhaouadi |
Top scorers
[edit]Statistics exclude qualifying rounds.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamed Fouzair
|
Fath Union Sport
|
3 |
| 2 | Amr Barakat
|
Al-Ahly
|
2 |
| Ziyad Ahmed
|
Naft Al-Wasat
| ||
 Akram Zuway
|
Al-Faisaly
| ||
 Dominique Mendy
|
Al-Faisaly
| ||
| Mohamad Haidar
|
Al-Ahed
| ||
 Lamine Diakité
|
Fath Union Sport
| ||
 Kelechi Osunwa
|
Al-Merrikh
| ||
| Bakri Al-Madina
|
Al-Merrikh
| ||
| Anice Badri
|
Espérance de Tunis
| ||
| Saad Bguir
|
Espérance de Tunis
| ||
| Taha Yassine Khenissi
|
Espérance de Tunis
|
Prize money
[edit]UAFA announced that the winner will receive $2.5 million, while $600,000 will go to the runner-up and the losing semi-finalists will each get $200,000.[6][7]
Media
[edit]The tournament gained international coverage for being the first football tournament to be broadcast live on Twitter, with all 21 matches from the group stage and knockout stage being shown for free on the competition's official Twitter account.[8]
Broadcasting
[edit]| Territory | Channel |
|---|---|
| Egypt
|
ONTV |
| Saudi Arabia
|
Al-Riyadiah |
| United Arab Emirates
|
Abu Dhabi TV |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Inviting the Arab Associations to Participate in the Arab Club Cup" (in Arabic). UAFA. 20 June 2016.
- ^ "FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking - Men's Ranking". FIFA.com. 2 June 2016. Archived from the original on June 7, 2016.
- ^ تصفيات الدور الأول لكأس العرب للأندية بجيبوتي (in Arabic). UAFA. 14 September 2016.
- ^ اللجنة المنظمة للبطولة العربية للأندية تعقد اجتماعها الثاني بالخرطوم (in Arabic). UAFA. 5 March 2017.
- ^ "UAFA : 12 clubs retenus pour la Coupe" (in French). Dzfoot.com. 7 March 2017.
- ^ "Arab Club Championship Awards" (in Arabic). Ahram Sport. 5 May 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "The Development Arab Club Championship Awards from 2004 to 2017" (in Arabic). Goal. 21 July 2017.
- ^ "The Twitter tournament: This week in Middle East football". The New Arab. 26 July 2017.
External links
[edit]- UAFA Official website (in Arabic)
2017 Arab Club Championship
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Tournament background
Overview
The 2017 Arab Club Championship was the 27th season of the premier inter-club football competition for Arab teams, organized by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA), and marked the first edition under its renamed format from the previous Arab Club Champions Cup.[9] The tournament structure included a qualifying phase spanning from 14 September 2016 to 4 March 2017, designed to determine entrants for the main event, followed by the group stage and knockout rounds held entirely in Egypt.[10] Egypt was selected as the host nation for the main tournament, which took place from 22 July to 6 August 2017 across venues in the country, representing the first time the competition was fully centralized in one host nation following qualification.[11][10] A total of 20 teams from 18 member countries of the Arab Football Associations participated overall, with 12 advancing to contest the group stage and subsequent knockout phases in Egypt.[12] Espérance de Tunis emerged as champions, defeating Al-Faisaly 3–2 after extra time in the final held on 6 August 2017 at Alexandria Stadium, thereby securing their third title in the competition and tying the record for the most wins.[5][13][14][15] The event featured 36 matches in total, during which 83 goals were scored for an average of 2.31 goals per match, underscoring its competitive intensity across the Arab football landscape.[10]Format and regulations
The 2017 Arab Club Championship consisted of a qualifying play-off stage, a group stage, and a knockout stage, involving a total of 20 teams from Arab nations across Africa and Asia. Nine teams qualified directly for the group stage based on their confederation rankings and recent continental successes, while 11 teams competed in the qualifying play-off for three available spots in the group stage. The qualifying play-off was structured in three zonal rounds for Africa and Asia, featuring single-elimination home-and-away ties to determine the advancing teams, which then joined the direct entrants to form the main draw.[10][16] The group stage featured 12 teams divided into three groups of four, contested in a round-robin format where each team played the others once. Points were awarded as follows: three for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. The top team from each group, along with the best second-placed team across all groups, advanced to the knockout stage. Tie-breakers for teams level on points prioritized goal difference in all group matches, followed by goals scored, head-to-head results, fair play records (fewer yellow and red cards), and finally FIFA club rankings if necessary. All group stage matches were hosted in Egypt to maintain neutrality, with venues including stadiums in Cairo and Alexandria.[10][17] The knockout stage adopted a single-elimination format with semi-finals and a final, all played as single matches at neutral venues in Egypt. If a match ended in a draw after 90 minutes, extra time would be played, followed by a penalty shootout if still tied; no third-place match was contested. All matches adhered to the FIFA Laws of the Game, with yellow cards accumulating across all phases of the tournament—players receiving two yellows in separate matches or a single red card faced suspension for the next match, and further accumulations could lead to longer bans.[10][17]Qualification
Allocation of entries
The allocation of entries for the 2017 Arab Club Championship was determined by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) based on clubs' recent performances in continental competitions such as the CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, AFC Champions League, and domestic leagues or cups from the 2015–16 season. A total of 20 teams from Arab nations participated, with 9 teams receiving direct entry to the group stage and 11 teams allocated to the qualifying play-off rounds, of which 3 advanced to join the direct entrants in the main tournament.[10] The 9 direct slots were distributed to reflect strong continental representation, with 5 allocated to African clubs and 4 to Asian clubs. African direct entrants included winners and runners-up from the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, such as Al Ahly (Egypt, 2016 CAF Champions League winners) and Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia, 2016 CAF Champions League runners-up). Asian direct entrants were primarily from the AFC Champions League, including Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia, 2016 AFC Champions League winners) and Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates, 2016 AFC Champions League runners-up), alongside other high-performing clubs like Al-Faisaly (Jordan). This structure prioritized teams with proven success in intercontinental play to ensure competitive balance in the group stage.[10] The 11 qualifying slots were assigned to clubs from lower-ranked associations via domestic achievements, with 5 from African nations (Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritania, Somalia, and Sudan) and 6 from Asian nations (Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, and Syria), typically as league champions or cup winners from the 2015–16 season; for instance, Al-Merreikh (Sudan) qualified as the Sudanese Premier League champions, while Al-Ahed (Lebanon) entered as the Lebanese FA Cup winners. Djibouti, Comoros, and Somalia participated in a preliminary triangular tournament due to limited entries and rankings.[10]Qualifying play-off
The qualifying play-off for the 2017 Arab Club Championship consisted of three single-elimination rounds divided between the African and Asian zones, spanning from 14 September 2016 to 4 March 2017, with home-and-away legs determining advancement except in cases resolved by drawing of lots or neutral venues. A total of 11 teams from lower-ranked associations competed, with three overall winners qualifying for the group stage: two from Asia and one from Africa.[10] In the African zone's Preliminary Round 1, held in Djibouti from 14 to 20 September 2016, local clubs AS Ali Sabieh (also known as ASAS Djibouti Télécom) and Volcan Club faced Dekedda of Somalia in a triangular format due to limited entries; matches ended 0–0 (Volcan vs. Dekedda), 0–0 (Djibouti Télécom vs. Volcan), and 1–1 (Djibouti Télécom vs. Dekedda), with Djibouti Télécom advancing via a post-match lottery draw.[10] In the Asian zone's Preliminary Round 1, held on 14 and 21 December 2016, Bahrain's Al-Riffa faced Lebanon's Al-Ahed. Al-Ahed won 1–0 away in the first leg and 4–1 at home in the second leg, advancing 5–1 on aggregate.[10] The African zone's Preliminary Round 2 featured Djibouti Télécom against Sudan's Al-Merrikh across two legs on 20 January and 4 February 2017; the first leg in Djibouti ended 1–1, followed by a 0–1 away win for Al-Merrikh in Omdurman, securing a 2–1 aggregate victory and progression.[10] In the corresponding Asian zone round on 5 and 12 January 2017, Lebanon's Al-Ahed hosted Palestine's Shabab Al-Khalil, winning 1–0 at home and 2–0 in Amman for a 3–0 aggregate triumph.[10] The play-off round (also termed the qualification round) determined the final qualifiers. In Asia, Iraq's Naft Al-Wasat faced Syria's Al-Jaish in neutral Lebanon on 24 and 28 December 2016, drawing 0–0 before a 1–0 second-leg win for Naft Al-Wasat, advancing on a 1–0 aggregate.[10] Al-Ahed then met Oman's Fanja on 1 and 8 February 2017, prevailing 2–1 at home and 4–0 away for a decisive 6–1 aggregate.[10] In Africa, Mauritania's FC Tevragh-Zeïna hosted Al-Merrikh on 24 February and 4 March 2017, losing 0–1 before a 2–2 draw in Omdurman, eliminated on a 2–3 aggregate as Al-Merrikh qualified.[10]| Round | Zone | Fixture | First Leg (Date, Score) | Second Leg (Date, Score) | Aggregate | Advancer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary 1 | Africa | Djibouti Télécom vs. Dekedda/Volcan (triangular) | Various (Sep 2016, 0–0, 0–0, 1–1) | N/A | N/A (lottery) | Djibouti Télécom[10] |
| Preliminary 1 | Asia | Al-Riffa (BHR) vs. Al-Ahed (LBN) | 14 Dec 2016, 0–1 | 21 Dec 2016, 1–4 | 1–5 | Al-Ahed[10] |
| Preliminary 2 | Africa | Djibouti Télécom vs. Al-Merrikh (SDN) | 20 Jan 2017, 1–1 | 4 Feb 2017, 0–1 | 1–2 | Al-Merrikh[10] |
| Preliminary 2 | Asia | Al-Ahed (LBN) vs. Shabab Al-Khalil (PLE) | 5 Jan 2017, 1–0 | 12 Jan 2017, 2–0 | 3–0 | Al-Ahed[10] |
| Play-off | Asia | Al-Jaish (SYR) vs. Naft Al-Wasat (IRQ) | 24 Dec 2016, 0–0 (neutral) | 28 Dec 2016, 0–1 (neutral) | 0–1 | Naft Al-Wasat[10] |
| Play-off | Asia | Al-Ahed (LBN) vs. Fanja (OMA) | 1 Feb 2017, 2–1 | 8 Feb 2017, 4–0 | 6–1 | Al-Ahed[10] |
| Play-off | Africa | FC Tevragh-Zeïna (MTN) vs. Al-Merrikh (SDN) | 24 Feb 2017, 0–1 | 4 Mar 2017, 2–2 | 2–3 | Al-Merrikh[10] |
Participating teams
List of qualified teams
A total of 12 teams qualified for the group stage of the 2017 Arab Club Championship, comprising nine direct entrants based on performances in continental club competitions or domestic leagues during the 2015–16 season, and three additional teams that advanced through the qualifying play-offs.[10] These teams represented eight Arab nations, with Egypt and Saudi Arabia each contributing two clubs.[10]Direct Qualifiers
The nine direct qualifiers included prominent clubs from both the African and Asian confederations, selected for their success in the CAF Champions League (CAF CL), CAF Confederation Cup (CAF CC), AFC Champions League (AFC CL), or as domestic league champions. Al-Ain of the UAE initially qualified but withdrew and was replaced by fellow UAE club Al-Wahda.[10] The following table lists the direct qualifiers, their countries, and qualification paths:| Team | Country | Qualification Path |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Ahly | Egypt | Egyptian Premier League champion 2015–16 |
| Espérance de Tunis | Tunisia | Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 runners-up 2015–16 |
| Fath Union Sport | Morocco | Moroccan Throne Cup winner 2015–16 |
| Al-Faisaly | Jordan | AFC CL participant 2016 |
| Al-Hilal | Saudi Arabia | Saudi Professional League runners-up 2015–16 |
| Al-Nassr | Saudi Arabia | AFC CL participant 2016 |
| Zamalek | Egypt | Egyptian Premier League runners-up 2015–16 |
| Al-Wahda | UAE | Replacement for Al-Ain; UAE Pro-League participant |
| NA Hussein Dey | Algeria | Algerian Ligue 1 runners-up 2015–16 |
Qualifying Play-Off Advancers
The qualifying play-offs involved 11 teams from various Arab associations, with three advancing to the group stage: Al-Ahed from Lebanon, Naft Al-Wasat from Iraq, and Al-Merrikh from Sudan. These clubs earned their spots by winning their respective zonal play-off ties in May and June 2017.[10]Distribution by Country
The qualified teams were distributed across Arab countries as follows, reflecting the tournament's emphasis on representation from both African and Asian Arab federations. Several nations, including Bahrain, Djibouti, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, and Qatar, entered teams into the qualifying play-offs but did not advance any to the group stage.[10]| Country | Number of Qualified Teams | Notes on Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 1 | - |
| Bahrain | 0 | Attempted via Al-Riffa in play-offs |
| Djibouti | 0 | Attempted in African zone play-offs |
| Egypt | 2 | - |
| Iraq | 1 | - |
| Jordan | 1 | - |
| Lebanon | 1 | - |
| Libya | 0 | No entry due to security issues |
| Mauritania | 0 | Attempted in African zone play-offs |
| Morocco | 1 | - |
| Oman | 0 | Attempted via Fanja in play-offs |
| Palestine | 0 | Attempted via Shabab Al-Khalil |
| Qatar | 0 | No entry due to suspension |
| Saudi Arabia | 2 | - |
| Sudan | 1 | - |
| Tunisia | 1 | - |
| UAE | 1 | - |
Group draw
The group draw for the 2017 Arab Club Championship took place on 5 May 2017 in Cairo, Egypt. Twelve teams—comprising nine directly qualified clubs and three that advanced via the qualifying play-offs—were allocated into three groups of four using a pot system determined by FIFA club rankings to ensure balanced competition.[18][11] The pots were structured as follows: Pot 1 contained the top seeds Al-Ahly (Egypt), Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), Al-Faisaly (Jordan), and Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia); Pot 2 included Zamalek (Egypt), Fath Union Sport (Morocco), Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia), and Al-Wahda (United Arab Emirates); Pot 3 featured NA Hussein Dey (Algeria), Al-Merrikh (Sudan), and Al-Ahed (Lebanon); while Pot 4 had the remaining qualifier Naft Al-Wasat (Iraq). Teams were drawn from each pot to form the groups, with one team per pot assigned to Groups A, B, and C where possible.[18][19] The draw resulted in the following group compositions:| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Al-Faisaly (Jordan), Al-Ahly (Egypt), NA Hussein Dey (Algeria), Al-Wahda (United Arab Emirates) |
| B | Fath Union Sport (Morocco), Al-Ahed (Lebanon), Zamalek (Egypt), Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) |
| C | Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), Al-Merrikh (Sudan), Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Naft Al-Wasat (Iraq) |
Venues and scheduling
Venues
The 2017 Arab Club Championship was hosted across three stadiums in Egypt, primarily in the cities of Alexandria and Cairo, selected by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) to ensure neutrality and leverage the country's established football infrastructure for regional competitions.[2] This choice allowed for centralized play amid geopolitical sensitivities in the Arab world, with all matches limited to 75% of each venue's capacity to accommodate security protocols.[2] Borg El Arab Stadium, located in the Borg El Arab district west of Alexandria, served as a primary venue with its expansive facilities designed for large-scale events. Opened in 2006 and owned by the Egyptian Armed Forces, the stadium features a capacity of 86,000 spectators and includes modern amenities such as floodlights, a grass pitch, and extensive parking for over 10,000 vehicles.[20][21] It hosted multiple group stage fixtures and knockout matches, benefiting from its status as one of Africa's largest arenas.[12] Alexandria Stadium, situated in the Moharram Bey district of Alexandria, provided a more intimate setting for select tournament games, including the final. Built in 1929 and renovated between 2016 and 2017, it has an all-seated capacity of 13,660 and is home to Al-Ittihad Alexandria Club, with a running track surrounding the pitch.[22][23] The venue's historical significance and central location in the coastal city made it suitable for high-profile encounters.[12] Al Salam Stadium, located in the New Cairo district east of Cairo, accommodated the remaining group stage matches with its contemporary design tailored for professional football. Inaugurated in 2009 and primarily used by El Entag El Harby, the all-seated facility holds 30,000 spectators and includes training fields and administrative offices.[24][25] Its proximity to the capital ensured logistical ease for teams and officials.[12]Match schedule
The group stage of the 2017 Arab Club Champions Cup took place from 22 to 30 July 2017, consisting of three matchdays across three groups of four teams each, for a total of 18 matches.[26] Matchday 1 occurred on 22–24 July, Matchday 2 on 25–27 July, and Matchday 3 on 28–30 July, with fixtures distributed such that multiple groups played concurrently each day to maintain a tight schedule without dedicated rest days between matchdays.[26] For instance, in Group A on Matchday 1, Al-Faisaly faced Al-Ahly on 22 July, while on Matchday 2, Al-Ahly played Al-Wahda on 25 July; similar patterns applied to Groups B and C, including Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ahed on 23 July in Group B and Al-Wasat vs. Espérance on 24 July in Group C.[26][10] The knockout stage followed immediately after the group phase, featuring the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals on 2 and 3 August 2017, with the final scheduled for 6 August 2017, adding three more matches to the tournament.[26] All fixtures were conducted in local Egyptian Eastern European Time (EET).[26] The compressed timeline in Egypt's summer heat influenced the overall planning, though no major adjustments to the dates were reported.[27]Group stage
Group A
Group A of the 2017 Arab Club Championship featured four teams: Al-Faysali from Jordan, Al-Ahly from Egypt, NA Hussein-Dey from Algeria, and Al-Wahda from the United Arab Emirates.[10] All matches were held in Cairo, Egypt, as part of the tournament's centralized hosting.[10] The group stage began on 22 July 2017, with NA Hussein-Dey defeating Al-Wahda 2–0 in the early match, thanks to goals that secured their only victory in the group.[10] Later that day, Al-Faysali pulled off a surprise 1–0 win over hosts Al-Ahly, with the Jordanian side's defense holding firm to claim three vital points.[10] On 25 July, Al-Faysali continued their strong form by beating NA Hussein-Dey 1–0, maintaining a clean sheet and extending their perfect record.[10] In the concurrent fixture, Al-Ahly bounced back with a 2–0 victory against Al-Wahda, scoring through key contributions that boosted their goal difference.[10] The final round on 28 July saw Al-Ahly edge NA Hussein-Dey 2–1 to solidify second place, while Al-Faysali completed an unbeaten campaign with a 2–1 triumph over Al-Wahda, despite conceding for the first time in the group.[10] Al-Faysali topped Group A unbeaten, advancing directly to the knockout stage as group winners.[10] Al-Ahly finished second and progressed as one of the best second-placed teams across the groups, per the tournament's advancement rules.[10]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Faysali (Jordan) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Al-Ahly (Egypt) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | Advance as best 2nd-placed team |
| 3 | NA Hussein-Dey (Algeria) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Al-Wahda (UAE) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 0 |
Group B
Group B of the 2017 Arab Club Championship featured four teams: FUS Rabat from Morocco, Al-Ahed from Lebanon, Zamalek from Egypt, and Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia. The group stage matches were held in Alexandria, Egypt, with each team playing three fixtures in a round-robin format. The group winner advanced directly to the knockout stage, while the runner-up could qualify as the best second-placed team across all groups, determined by points, goal difference, and goals scored. The group kicked off on 23 July 2017 with two matches. Zamalek and FUS Rabat played out a 2–2 draw at Borg El Arab Stadium, where both sides scored twice in an evenly contested opener that saw defensive lapses contribute to the high-scoring affair. In the other fixture, Al-Nassr hosted Al-Ahed at Alexandria Stadium, ending in a 1–1 stalemate after Al-Nassr took an early lead only for Al-Ahed to equalize late in the first half.[28][29][30][31] On 26 July 2017, FUS Rabat secured a convincing 4–0 victory over Al-Nassr at Alexandria Stadium, dominating possession and converting chances efficiently to boost their goal difference significantly. Meanwhile, Al-Ahed edged Zamalek 1–0 in a tense match at [Borg El Arab Stadium](/page/Borg El Arab Stadium), with a single goal proving decisive in a low-scoring encounter marked by strong defensive play from the Lebanese side.[32][33][34][31] The final round of group matches took place on 29 July 2017. FUS Rabat and Al-Ahed finished level at 1–1 at Borg El Arab Stadium, a result that maintained the Moroccan team's lead on goal difference despite the draw. In the concurrent fixture, Zamalek defeated Al-Nassr 2–1 at Alexandria Stadium, ending their campaign on a positive note but falling short of advancement.[31][35]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FUS Rabat (Morocco) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 5 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Al-Ahed (Lebanon) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 | |
| 3 | Zamalek (Egypt) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 1 |
Group C
Group C of the 2017 Arab Club Championship featured four teams: Espérance de Tunis from Tunisia, Al-Merrikh from Sudan, Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia, and Naft Al-Wasat from Iraq. The group stage matches were held at Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt, between 24 and 30 July 2017.Matchday 1 (24 July)
Espérance began the group with a 1–0 victory over Naft Al-Wasat, thanks to a first-half goal. In the other fixture, Al-Merrikh and Al-Hilal played out a 1–1 draw, with both teams scoring in the first half.Matchday 2 (27 July)
Espérance secured a 2–0 win against Al-Merrikh, with goals from Anis Badri in the 21st and 70th minutes, putting them on six points and qualifying for the semi-finals. Al-Hilal and Naft Al-Wasat ended in a 2–2 draw, with the Iraqi side equalizing late in the second half.Matchday 3 (30 July)
Espérance completed an unbeaten group stage campaign with a 3–2 defeat of Al-Hilal, scoring through Ferjani Sassi (as a penalty), Haythem Jouini, and Ghailene Chaalali. Al-Merrikh ended their tournament on a high, beating Naft Al-Wasat 2–1, with goals from Ahmed Al-Nemer and Yao Simon Kouassi, while Kelechi Osunwa scored for the Iraqis.[37] Espérance de Tunis topped Group C with maximum points and advanced to the semi-finals. Al-Merrikh took second place but was eliminated after the ranking of second-placed teams, where goal difference determined progression.| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 9 |
| 2 | Al-Merrikh (Sudan) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 4 |
| 3 | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 2 |
| 4 | Naft Al-Wasat (Iraq) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 1 |
Ranking of second-placed teams
In the group stage of the 2017 Arab Club Championship, the top team from each of the three groups advanced directly to the semi-finals, while the best second-placed team among the three runners-up also qualified to create a four-team knockout draw. The ranking of the second-placed teams was determined by points earned in the group stage; ties were broken first by goal difference, then by goals scored.[38] The second-placed teams finished as follows:| Team | Group | Points | Goal Difference | Goals Scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Ahly (Egypt) | A | 6 | +2 | 4 |
| Al Ahed (Lebanon) | B | 5 | +1 | 3 |
| Al-Merrikh (Sudan) | C | 4 | -1 | 3 |
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
The semi-finals of the 2017 Arab Club Championship were held at Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt, featuring the top four teams from the group stage: Jordan's Al-Faisaly, Egypt's Al-Ahly, Tunisia's Espérance de Tunis, and Morocco's FUS Rabat.[40] In the first semi-final on 2 August 2017, Al-Faisaly defeated Al-Ahly 2–1. Al-Faisaly took a commanding 2–0 lead in the first half, with Senegalese forward Dominique Mendy scoring via a header and Egyptian defender Ahmed Fathi inadvertently netting an own goal shortly after. Al-Ahly dominated possession and chances in the second half, hitting the woodwork through Saleh Gomaa and missing opportunities from Walid Azaro and Abdallah El-Said, but they pulled one back in stoppage time (90+8') when Azaro converted a cross to set up a tense finish. Al-Faisaly held firm to secure the victory and advance.[40] The second semi-final on 3 August 2017 saw Espérance de Tunis edge FUS Rabat 2–1 after extra time. FUS Rabat struck first in the 28th minute through Hamza Sammoumi, but Espérance equalized just before halftime in the 47th minute via Khalil Chammam. The match remained level after 90 minutes, forcing extra time, where Taha Yassine Khenissi scored the decisive goal in the 95th minute to send Espérance through.[31] Al-Faisaly and Espérance de Tunis progressed to the final as a result of these matches.[40]Final
The final of the 2017 Arab Club Championship was contested on 6 August 2017 at Alexandria Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt, between Tunisian club Espérance Sportive de Tunis and Jordanian club Al-Faisaly SC.[5] Espérance defeated Al-Faisaly 3–2 after extra time, securing the title in a match that ended 2–2 after 90 minutes.[7][5] The scoring began early in the second half when Saad Bguir netted twice for Espérance in the 47th and 54th minutes, giving them a 2–0 lead.[5] Al-Faisaly mounted a comeback, with Akram Zuway pulling one back in the 71st minute and Khalil Baniateyah equalizing in the 87th via a header.[5][13] Extra time proved tense and decisive, as Chamseddine Daoudi scored the winning goal for Espérance in the 101st minute, clinching a 3–2 victory and marking the club's third Arab Club Championship title.[5][7] The match was refereed by Egyptian official Ibrahim Nour El-Din.[42] Post-match controversy erupted over claims that Daoudi's goal was offside, leading to violent protests; Nour El-Din was physically attacked by Al-Faisaly players, officials, and fans, resulting in his hospitalization with injuries including a head wound.[7][43] Egyptian authorities arrested 38 individuals involved in the incident, who were later released.[7] Attendance at the final was 7,500.Results and statistics
Top scorers
Mohamed Fouzair of Fath Union Sport was the tournament's top scorer with 3 goals, earning him the individual honor as the leading marksman (statistics exclude qualifying rounds). A number of players tied for second place with 2 goals each, including Amr Barakat of Al Ahly, Saad Bguir of Espérance de Tunis, Taha Yassine Khenissi of Espérance de Tunis, Anice Badri of Espérance de Tunis, Kelechi Osunwa of Al-Merrikh, Bakri Al-Madina of Al-Merrikh, Lamine Diakité of Fath Union Sport, Mohamad Haidar of Al-Ahed, Akram Zuway of Al-Faisaly, Dominique Mendy of Al-Faisaly, and Ziyad Ahmed of Naft Al-Wasat. The tournament featured 83 goals in total across 36 matches (including qualifiers), scored by over 40 different players, with the group stage (main tournament) accounting for 36 goals. Own goals and penalties were not separately categorized in official records, and assists were not formally tracked.[44]| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamed Fouzair | Fath Union Sport | 3 |
| 2 | Amr Barakat | Al Ahly | 2 |
| 2 | Saad Bguir | Espérance de Tunis | 2 |
| 2 | Taha Yassine Khenissi | Espérance de Tunis | 2 |
| 2 | Anice Badri | Espérance de Tunis | 2 |
| 2 | Kelechi Osunwa | Al-Merrikh | 2 |
| 2 | Bakri Al-Madina | Al-Merrikh | 2 |
| 2 | Lamine Diakité | Fath Union Sport | 2 |
| 2 | Mohamad Haidar | Al-Ahed | 2 |
| 2 | Akram Zuway | Al-Faisaly | 2 |
| 2 | Dominique Mendy | Al-Faisaly | 2 |
| 2 | Ziyad Ahmed | Naft Al-Wasat | 2 |