It determined that years club champion of association football in Africa.

The tournament was played by 31 teams and was used a playoff scheme with home and away matches.

JE Tizi Ouzou from Algeria won that final, and became for the first time CAF club champion.

1 Al Ahly were forced to withdraw due to the political and security situation in Egypt following the assassination of Anwar Sadat.

The top scorers from the 1981 African Cup of Champions Clubs are as follows: JE Tizi Ouzou (Jeunesse Eléctronique de Tizi Ouzou) are now called JS Kabylie (Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie).