The 2003 season of the African Cup Winners' Cup football club tournament was won by Étoile Sportive du Sahel in two-legged final victory against Julius Berger (now Bridge Boys F.C.).

It was the first season when the CAF started to take disciplinary actions against teams withdrawing from the competition by banning them for three years.

These actions were taken against Masvingo United from Zimbabwe who withdrew before the first leg of the preliminary round and JS Pobè from Benin who failed to show for their first leg match of the first round.

Tanzania was not represented by JKT Ruvu Stars after the Tanzania Football Federation failed to confirm participation to CAF, while Liberian side Mighty Blue Angles were disqualified following failure to meet the deadline for submitting players' licenses.

Tanzania was not represented by JKT Ruvu Stars after the Tanzanian Football Federation failed to confirm participation to CAF Masvingo United withdrew before 1st leg and were subsequently banned for 3 years by CAF Olympique de Moka won 3-2 on aggregate Jomo Cosmos won 7-3 on aggregate JS Pobè won 2-0 on aggregate Match played in Kinshasa as Lubumbashi pitch (Stade Frederic Kibassa Maliba) considered into too poor condition JS Pobè did not show for the match and was subsequently banned for 3 years by CAF Mighty Blue Angles disqualified following failure to meet dead-line for submitting players' licenses Wydad Casablanca won 2-0 on aggregate Baladeyet El Mahalla won 4-1 on aggregate Kenya Pipeline 3-3 Anse Réunion.