[5] Mamelodi Sundowns were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Wydad Casablanca.

[5] As a result, theoretically a maximum of 68 teams could enter the tournament – although this level has never been reached.

[9][10] In the qualifying rounds, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis.

The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the quarter-finals of the knockout stage.

If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations III.