The 2016 CAF Confederation Cup qualifying rounds were played from 12 February to 18 May 2016.[1] A total of 59 teams competed in the qualifying rounds to decide the eight places in the group stage of the 2016 CAF Confederation Cup.[2]
Draw
The draw for the preliminary, first and second rounds was held on 11 December 2015 in Dakar, Senegal.[3][4]
The entry round of the 55 teams entered into the draw was determined by their performances in the CAF competitions for the previous five seasons (CAF 5-year ranking points shown in parentheses).
In the qualifying rounds, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still tied, extra time would not be played, and the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations III. 13 & 14).[2]
0–0 on aggregate. Deportivo Mongomo won 4–2 on penalties. The CAF announced on 2 March 2016 that UMS de Loum won on walkover after Deportivo Mongomo were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.[7]
2–2 on aggregate. CF Mounana won 5–4 on penalties.
Play-off round
The play-off round included 16 teams: the eight winners of the Confederation Cup second round and the eight losers of the Champions League second round.
The draw for the play-off round was held on 21 April 2016, 14:00 EET (UTC+2), at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.[9][10] The winners of the Confederation Cup second round were drawn against the losers of the Champions League second round, with the former hosting the second leg.
The 16 teams were seeded by their performances in the CAF competitions for the previous five seasons (CAF 5-year ranking points shown in parentheses):[11]
Pot A contained the two highest-ranked winners of the Confederation Cup second round.
Pot B contained the six lowest-ranked losers of the Champions League second round.
Pot C contained the two highest-ranked losers of the Champions League second round.
Pot D contained the six lowest-ranked losers of the Confederation Cup second round.
First, a team from Pot A and a team from Pot B were drawn into two ties. Next, a team from Pot C and a team from Pot D were drawn into two ties. Finally, the remaining teams from Pot B and Pot D were drawn into the last four ties.[12]
3–3 on aggregate. Medeama won on away goals. The CAF announced on 24 May 2016 that Mamelodi Sundowns won their Champions League second round tie on walkover after AS Vita Club were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in their preliminary round tie against Mafunzo.[13] Mamelodi Sundowns played in the Confederation Cup play-off round before they were reinstated to the Champions League.
Notes
^ abcTeams from Libya were not allowed to host their home matches in their country due to security concerns.
^The AS SONIDEP v Al-Ittihad Tripoli match was postponed due to a strike at Niamey airport.[6]