Retirement

 Retirement. Soon after lifting the Cup of European Champions

Velibor Vasovic ended his illustious career. Born in Pozarevac, Yugoslavia in 1939, he debuted for Partizan (Belgrade) 18-years and quickly established himself as a key defender and big part of very talented generation of the club.

Two years after his debut, he played his first match for the national team of Yugoslavia. However, he was no stranger to controversy, embiterring the fans of Yugoslavian archrivals: in the summer of 1963 he moved to Crvena zvezda and 6 months later moved back to Partizan. Transfers between Partizan and Crvena zvezda were and are rare and disliked by fans: usually players moving from their original club to the enemy are considered traitors – and in less than a year Vasovic betrayed both clubs. The scandal loomed quickly, Vasovic got death threats, including one from army officer, promissing to kill him during a match with a sniper rifle. There were organized fan protests and high-ranking officials were heavily involved in the saga. Vasovic's motivation was money – he openly offered himself to whoever will pay more: at first Crvena zvezda gave him about 5 million Yugoslavian dinnars. Six months later Partizan gave him more to move back to them – and he did. Crvena zvezda refused to transfer him and Vasovic was out of the game – after sitting out, he was instructed by Partizan's vice-president to meet the Federal Interior Secretary of Yugoslavia and beg him to resolve the situation. He managed to organize a meeting with FI Secretary and although nothing was promissed, he was able to return to Partizan a few months later – in exchange for another Partizan;s star , desired by Crvena zvezda. The saga made him not exactly welcome in Partizan – both fans and players saw his stunt as blackmail for money, forcing two clubs to accommodate his greed. Meantime Partizan was divided by internal struggle between the club's president and its general-secretary. This further divided the team – now two sides, each supporting one of the bosses fought. Vasovic supported the president, but 3 big stars were leading the opposition and after the general-secretary was dismissed they started a mutiny – half of the team refused to travel for a championship game in Skopje, including the coach. The scandal reached to top of the political leadership of Yugoslavia and Josip Broz Tito solved the problems by dismissing and moving to another parts of the country the officers involved (Partizan was the Army club, thus governed by high-ranking officers) and appointing civilian club president. Curiously, all that did not affect the quality of the team and paricularly Vasovic.

Crvena zvezda in 1963: standing from left: Stipić, Durković, Škrbić, Stojanović, Prljinčević, Melić. Crouching: B. Mitić, Čop, Kostić, D. Popović, Vasović.

Vasovic played only 13 games for Crvena zvezda, paired with their star central defender Cop. After sitting on the bench for months, he moved back to Partizan. This time, despite the scandals, football was priority: Partizan had very strong team in the first half of the 1960s and their regular titles culminated internationally – in 1966 they reached the European Champions Cup final.

The Champions Cup finalists, standing from left:Fahrudin Jusufi, Mane Bajić, Ivan Čurković, Milan Galić, Mustafa Hasanagić. Crouching: Ljubomir Mihajlović, Velibor Vasović, Branko Rašović, Radoslav Bečejac, Vladica Kovačević, Josip Pirmajer.

Partizan lost the final to Real Madrid 1-2, but Vasovic scored the goal for Partizan, actually opening a lead in the 55^th minute. Real managed to equalize in the 70^th minute. Vasovic was paired with Mihajlovic in the center of defence. And top form propelled Mihajlovic to the national team just when, ironically, Vasovic was exiting it: Mihajlovic played his first match for Yugoslavia in 1966 – Vasovic played his last match that same year.

Yugoslavia in June1966 vs West Germany. From left: Stjepan Lamza, Spasoje Samardžić, Žika Jevtić, Dragan Gugleta, Vojislav Melić, Josip Skoblar, Stevan Sekereš, Vinko Kuci, Slaven Zambata, Ilija Pantelić, Velibor Vasović.

Vasovic captained the team, but this was his farewell – and not fault this time: he transferred to Ajax (Amsterdam) and foreign-based players were not called to the national team. He played 32 matches, scoring 2 goals, for Yugoslavia between 1961 and 1966. Now, 27-years old he was starting a new and even bigger adventure.

Rinus Michels watched the Real-Partizan final and Vasovic impressed him. He needed classy defender, able to attack – aggressive and even arrogant defender with skills and experience, capable to read and organize the game. Vasovic was apaprently just that what Michels needed for his vision of total football and Vasovic was more than keen to such a concept. Michels quickly paired him with 19-years old Barry Hulshoff and the due clicked immediately. Vasovic qiuckly became the mentor for the talented squad, for most of the future great stars were still very young, Johan Cruijff included. The Yugoslav fittted perfectly and was big part of the ascent of Ajax. In 1969 the Dutch reached the Champions Cup final for the first time and met Milan. The team was still young and far from perfect and the Italians were at their peak – Ajax lost 1-4.

Vasovic (outside the picture) scored Ajax's goal. 2 goals in 2 finals – not bad for a defender (although by 1969 he was playing more like a libero than traditional sweeper).

By 1971 he was captaining Ajax and seemingly at the end of his days in Holland – it was rumored that he will be returning to Partizan. But not without a triumph:

He captained Ajax at the Champions Cup final against Panathinaikos and at his third attempt won the cup.

The picture of the Champions Cup winners is too well known, so this one – the squad is the same. Cruijff next to Vasovic, close enough but in secondary position to his captain. Others of this team will become better known and memorized, yet, without the contribution of Velibor Vasovic they would not be that famous. And Vasovic left... not just Ajax, but football. He retired just on time: glorious winner. One may say he called it a day prematurely – he was 32 and fit, surely could have played a few years more... but it was not common knowledge that he had asthma and played top-level football 13 years, suffering from it. Perhaps his condition played a role in his retirement, but no matter the reason the timing was perfect: on top of the world, ending as a winner. And he was the only defender scoring 2 goals at the finals until 2016, when Sergio Ramos scored his second goal.

Velibor Vasovic ended his career with total of 286 games and 23 goals: 128/10 for Partizan in his two stints, 13/0 for Crvena zvezda, and 145/13 for Ajax. Even if he played more years for Partizan, he may be considered true Ajax player. After retiring he returned to Partizan – starting his coaching career (which will bring him again to Crvena zvezda, but that's another story). Vasovic finished with 8 championship titles (4 with Partizan, 1 with Crvena zvezda, 3 with Ajax), 3 cups (with Ajax), and European Champions Cup. He was the foreign captain of Ajax.

European Championship Qualifying Stage

 

European championship 1972 – qualifying stage. 

NB: groups drawn on Mar 20, 1970, in Roma (Italy)

Group 1 [Romania]
Czechoslovakia   1-1 Finland            1.ROMANIA          6  4  1  1  11- 2  9
Romania          3-0 Finland            2.Czechoslovakia   6  4  1  1  11- 4  9
Wales            0-0 Romania            3.Wales            6  2  1  3   5- 6  5
Wales            1-3 Czechoslovakia     4.Finland          6  0  1  5   1-16  1
Czechoslovakia   1-0 Romania
Finland          0-1 Wales
Finland          0-4 Czechoslovakia
Finland          0-4 Romania
Wales            3-0 Finland
Czechoslovakia   1-0 Wales
Romania          2-1 Czechoslovakia
Romania          2-0 Wales





Group 2 [Hungary]
Norway           1-3 Hungary            1.HUNGARY          6  4  1  1  12- 5  9
France           3-1 Norway             2.Bulgaria         6  3  1  2  11- 7  7
Bulgaria         1-1 Norway             3.France           6  3  1  2  10- 8  7
Hungary          1-1 France             4.Norway           6  0  1  5   5-18  1
Bulgaria         3-0 Hungary
Norway           1-4 Bulgaria
Norway           1-3 France
Hungary          2-0 Bulgaria
France           0-2 Hungary
Hungary          4-0 Norway
France           2-1 Bulgaria
Bulgaria         2-1 France







Group 3 [England]
Malta            1-1 Greece             1.ENGLAND          6  5  1  0  15- 3 11
Greece           0-1 Switzerland        2.Switzerland      6  4  1  1  12- 5  9
Malta            1-2 Switzerland        3.Greece           6  1  1  4   3- 8  3
Malta            0-1 England            4.Malta            6  0  1  5   2-16  1
England          3-0 Greece
Switzerland      5-0 Malta
England          5-0 Malta
Switzerland      1-0 Greece
Greece           2-0 Malta
Switzerland      2-3 England
England          1-1 Switzerland
Greece           0-2 England







Group 4 [Soviet Union]
Spain            3-0 Northern Ireland   1.SOVIET UNION     6  4  2  0  13- 4 10
Cyprus           0-3 Northern Ireland   2.Spain            6  3  2  1  14- 3  8
Northern Ireland 5-0 Cyprus             3.Northern Ireland 6  2  2  2  10- 6  6
Cyprus           0-2 Spain              4.Cyprus           6  0  0  6   2-26  0
Soviet Union     2-1 Spain
Soviet Union     6-1 Cyprus
Soviet Union     1-0 Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland 1-1 Soviet Union
Spain            0-0 Soviet Union
Cyprus           1-3 Soviet union
Spain            7-0 Cyprus
Northern Ireland 1-1 Spain







Group 5 [Belgium]
Denmark          0-1 Portugal           1.BELGIUM          6  4  1  1  11- 3  9
Scotland         1-0 Denmark            2.Portugal         6  3  1  2  10- 6  7
Belgium          2-0 Denmark            3.Scotland         6  3  0  3   4- 7  6
Belgium          3-0 Scotland           4.Denmark          6  1  0  5   2-11  2
Belgium          3-0 Portugal
Portugal         2-0 Scotland
Portugal         5-0 Denmark
Denmark          1-2 Belgium
Denmark          1-0 Scotland
Scotland         2-1 Portugal
Scotland         1-0 Belgium
Portugal         1-1 Belgium

Standing from left: Georges Heylens, Nico Dewalque, Léon Jeck , Erwin Vandendaele , Christian Piot, Jean Thissen .
Front: Pierre Carteus , Johnny Thio , Johan De Vrindt , Raoul Lambert, Wilfried Van Moer .




Group 6 [Italy]
Ireland          1-1 Sweden             1.ITALY            6  4  2  0  12- 4 10
Sweden           1-0 Ireland            2.Austria          6  3  1  2  14- 6  7
Austria          1-2 Italy              3.Sweden           6  2  2  2   3- 5  6
Italy            3-0 Ireland            4.Ireland          6  0  1  5   3-17  1
Ireland          1-2 Italy
Sweden           1-0 Austria
Ireland          1-4 Austria
Sweden           0-0 Italy
Austria          1-0 Sweden
Italy            3-0 Sweden
Austria          6-0 Ireland
Italy            2-2 Austria







Group 7 [Yugoslavia]
Netherlands      1-1 Yugoslavia         1.YUGOSLAVIA       6  3  3  0   7- 2  9
East Germany     1-0 Netherlands        2.Netherlands      6  3  1  2  18- 6  7
Luxembourg       0-5 East Germany       3.East Germany     6  3  1  2  11- 6  7
Netherlands      6-0 Luxembourg         4.Luxembourg       6  0  1  5   1-23  1
Yugoslavia       2-0 Netherlands
East Germany     2-1 Luxembourg
East Germany     1-2 Yugoslavia
Luxembourg       0-2 Yugoslavia
Netherlands      3-2 East Germany
Yugoslavia       0-0 East Germany
Yugoslavia       0-0 Luxembourg
Luxembourg       0-8 Netherlands     (in Eindhoven, Netherlands)









Group 8 [West Germany]
Poland           3-0 Albania            1.WEST GERMANY     6  4  2  0  10- 2 10
West Germany     1-1 Turkey             2.Poland           6  2  2  2  10- 6  6
Turkey           2-1 Albania            3.Turkey           6  2  1  3   5-13  5
Albania          0-1 West Germany       4.Albania          6  1  1  4   5- 9  3
Turkey           0-3 West Germany
Albania          1-1 Poland
West Germany     2-0 Albania
Poland           5-1 Turkey
Poland           1-3 West Germany
Albania          3-0 Turkey
West Germany     0-0 Poland
Turkey           1-0 Poland

Iran

 Iran. In 1970-71 the first national championship was organized.

Regional Stage

Region A (Kerman)

Final Table:

 1.Paykan                   4   3  0  1  24- 9   7  Qualified
 2.Taj Abadan               4   2  2  0   9- 4   6  Qualified
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 3.Rah Kerman               4   1  2  1   4- 5   4
 4.Khane Javanan Isfahan    4   1  2  1   9-14   4
 5.Arash Bandar Anzali      4   0  0  4   6-20   0 
 
NB: in the final group stage, Perspolis Tehran entered instead of Paykan

Region B (Rezaeieh)

Final Table:

 1.Taj Tehran               3   3  0  0   6- 1   6  Qualified
 2.Kargar Abadan            3   2  0  1   5- 3   4  Qualified
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 3.Perspolis Rezayeh        3   1  0  2   1- 3   2
 4.Pas Hamedan              3   0  0  3   1- 6   0
 
Region C (Rasht)

Reported Final Tables:

Group A
 1.Pas Tehran               3   3  0  0  12- 3   6  Rasht Semifinals          
 2.Give Bandar Pahlavi      3   2  0  1  12- 7   4  Rasht Semifinals
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 3.Taj Gonbad               3   2  0  1   8- 7   4
 4.Taj Tascht               3   0  0  3   4-13   0
NB: 2 more wins than losses, overall goal difference +6

Group B
 1.Arya Mashhad             2   2  0  0   3- 0   4  Rasht Semifinals
 2.Taj Khorramabad          2   1  0  1   2- 1   2  Rasht Semifinals
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 3.Taj Tabriz               2   0  0  2   0- 4   0      

Semifinals
Pas Tehran            7-1 Taj Khorramabad
Arya Mashhad          1-1 Give Bandar Pahlavi    [4-3 pen]

Third Place Match
Give Bandar Pahlavi   8-0 Taj Khorramabad

Final
Pas Tehran            2-2 Arya Mashhad           [3-2 pen]  

NB: both finalists qualified for final group stage
 
Region D (Isfahan)

Reported Final Tables:

Group A
 1.Taj Ahvaz                3   3  0  0  15- 2   6  Isfahan Semifinals
 2.Bargh Tehran             3   2  0  1   8- 5   4  Isfahan Semifinals
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 3.Pas Mashhad              3   1  0  2   5- 7   2
 4.Taj Kohgiluyet           3   0  0  3   2-16   0
 
Group B
 1.Javanan Isfahan          2   1  1  0   5- 2   3  Isfahan Semifinals
 2.Taj Shiraz               2   0  2  0   3- 3   2  Isfahan Semifinals
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 3.Sahand Tabriz            2   0  1  1   1- 3   1
NB: overall goal difference +1

Semifinals
Taj Shiraz            3-2 Taj Ahvaz
Javahan Isfahan       0-4 Bargh Tehran
 
Third Place Match
Javanan Isfahan       0-2 Taj Ahvaz       
 
Final        
Taj Shiraz            0-1 Bargh Tehran     
      
NB: both finalists qualified for final group stage


Final Group Stage

NB: it is not clear why Perspolis Tehran entered instead of Paykan

Group A
 1.Pas Tehran               3   3  0  0   9- 2   6  Qualified
 2.Perspolis Tehran         3   2  0  1  10- 3   4  Qualified
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 3.Taj Shiraz               3   1  0  2   3- 8   2   
 4.Bargh Tehran             3   0  0  3   0- 9   0

Group B
 1.Taj Tehran               3   1  2  0   7- 2   4  Qualified
 2.Taj Abadan               3   1  2  0   4- 2   4  Qualified
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 3.Kargar Abadan            3   1  2  0   5- 4   4
 4.Arya Mashhad             3   0  0  3   2-10   0
        
NB: tie-breaker goal difference
 
Semifinals 
Pas Tehran            4–2 Taj Abadan        
Taj Tehran            awd Perspolis Tehran       [awarded 3-0, abandoned at 1-1 in 80'; Perspolis walked off] 

Third Place Match
Taj Abadan            w/o Perspolis Tehran       [Perspolis dns]

Final
Taj Tehran            2–1 Pas Tehran   
  [Gholamhosein Mazlomi 3, Akbar Kargarjam 33; Asgahr Sharafi 9]

Final Ranking:
 1.Taj Tehran
 2.Pas Tehran
 3.Taj Abadan
 4.Perspolis Tehran
Taj (Tehran) was the first champion of Iran.
NB: Taj Tehran renamed Esteghlal after islamic revolution 1979 ('Taj'
    means 'crown' and so referred directly to the shah)

Asian Champions' Cup

 

Asian Champions' Cup 1971

(all matches at the National Stadium in Bangkok, Mar 21-Apr 2, 1971;
 originally to be held in Kuwait, but moved to Thailand by the AFC)

Preliminary Round (group allocation matches)
21- 3 Bangkok Bank             Tha  ROK Army                 SKo   1-2
        [Praderm Muangkasem 79; Kim Chong-Ho 23, Choi Sang-Chul 32; att: 8000]
21- 3 Aliyat Al-Shurta         Irq  Taj Club                 Irn   3-2
        [Ghanem Abdul-Hamid 2, Shaker Ismail 35, 65; Gholamhossein Mazloumi 23, 81]
22- 3 Al-Arabi                 Kuw  Punjab                   Ind   8-1
        [Hassan Shehata 13 50, Ibrahim Fahad 28, Ali Al-Mulla 31, 36, 61, 68,
         Taha Basri 63; Surjeet Singh 17; att: 3000]
22- 3 Maccabi Tel-Aviv         Isr  Perak                    Mly   1-0
        [Meir Nimni 20]
(each group to contain two winners and two losers from this round)

NB: Jardines (Hongkong) withdrew

Group A 
24- 3 Al-Arabi                 Kuw  Perak                    Mly   3-0
        [Ibrahim Fahad 17, Hassan Shehata 66, Taha Basri 73; att: 10000]
24- 3 Taj Club                 Irn  ROK Army                 SKo   2-1
        [Alireza Hajghasem 43, 67; Lim Tae-Joo 46]
26- 3 ROK Army                 SKo  Perak                    Mly   3-0
        [Choi Sang-Chul 19, Park Yi-Chun 56, Chung Kyu-Poong 78; att: 9000]
26- 3 Taj Club                 Irn  Al-Arabi                 Kuw   0-0
28- 3 Taj Club                 Irn  Perak                    Mly   3-0
        [Masoud Mojdehi 59, Mehdi Lavasani 62, Wong Hee Kok 66 OG; att: 8000]
28- 3 ROK Army                 SKo  Al-Arabi                 Kuw   1-0
        [Park Yi-Chun 73]

 1.Taj Club                        3  2  1  0  5- 1  5
 2.ROK Army                        3  2  0  1  5- 2  4
 3.Al-Arabi                        3  1  1  1  3- 1  3
 4.Perak                           3  0  0  3  0- 9  0

Group B 
25- 3 Bangkok Bank             Tha  Punjab                   Ind   2-0
        [Narong Pisetsamrascheep 5, Prasarn Daencharoenvanakit 7; att: 8000]
25- 3 Maccabi Tel-Aviv         Isr  Aliyat Al-Shurta         Irq   w/o x
27- 3 Maccabi Tel-Aviv         Isr  Punjab                   Ind   4-1
        [Meir Nimni 10, Shlomo Gerbi 16, Giora Spiegel 39, Dror Bar-Nur 71;
         Surjeet Singh 83 pen; att: 9000]
27- 3 Bangkok Bank             Tha  Aliyat Al-Shurta         Irq   0-2
        [Ghanem Abdul-Hamid 75, Sabah Hatem 82]
29- 3 Aliyat Al-Shurta         Irq  Punjab                   Ind   6-1
        [Sabah Hatim 23, 53, 62, Mudhafar Nouri 50, 87, Ravi Kumar 64og;
         Sukhvinder Singh 78]
29- 3 Bangkok Bank             Tha  Maccabi Tel-Aviv         Isr   1-4
        [Kasetchai Suvanthada 65; Shlomo Gerbi 10, Dror Bar-Nur 20, 29, Giora Spiegel 32]
x Aliyat Al-Shurta withdrew from this match, awarded to Maccabi

 1.Maccabi Tel-Aviv                3  3  0  0  8- 2  6
 2.Aliyat Al-Shurta (Bagdad)       3  2  0  1  8- 1  4
 3.Bangkok Bank                    3  1  0  2  3- 6  2
 4.Punjab                          3  0  0  3  2-12  0

Semifinals (in Bangkok)
31- 3 Aliyat Al-Shurta         Irq  Taj Club                 Irn   2-0
        [Munaim Hussein 6, Shaker Ismail 81; att: 12000]
31- 3 Maccabi Tel-Aviv         Isr  ROK Army                 SKo   2-0
        [Shlomo Gerbi 29, 63]

Third Place Match (in Bangkok)
 2- 4 Taj Club                 Irn  ROK Army                 SKo   3-2
        [Alireza Hajghasem 19, Gholamhossein Mazloumi 57, Ali Jabbari 80;
         Chung Kyu-Poong 63, Lim Tae-Joo 87; att: 3000]

Final (in Bangkok)
 2- 4 Maccabi Tel-Aviv         Isr  Aliyat Al-Shurta         Irq   w/o x
x Aliyat Al-Shurta withdrew from this match, awarded to Maccabi

NB: instead of the final, an exhibition match was played
 2- 4 Combined Bangkok         Tha  Maccabi Tel-Aviv         Isr   1-2
        [Aikkachai Sondhikan 6; Dror Bar-Nur 2, 61]

Maccabi (Tel-Aviv) returned home with the Asian trophy – their second and last. Politics gravely affected the Asian competitions and soon Israel will be banned from participating just like South Africa in Africa. The Asian Champions' Cup was cancelled in 1972, when some clubs withrew for financial reasons and Racing (Beirut) refused to play because of Maccabi (Natanya) presence – with that the Asian Champions' Cup vanished until 1986.

African Footballer Of The Year

 

African Footballer of the Year. The second issue of the award was all-domestic – no European-based players reached the top three. The voting perhaps reflected the Champions' Cup – all three were from the finalists, but on top came those from the losing team:

1st Ibrahim Sunday (Ghana) Asante Kotoko 29

2nd Robert Mensah (Ghana) Asante Kotoko 15

3rd François Ndoumbé (Cameroon) Canon Yaoundé 13

Ibrahim Sunday was 27 years old winger and midfielder, he was well established player in Africa – a national team player since 1966, when he was 18 years old. In 1975 he became the first African player in the West German Bundesliga (only 1 game for Werder Bremen – perhaps he moved to Europe too old).

African Champions' Cup

 

African Champions' Cup 1971
First Round
Abaluhya United          Ken  Great Olympics           Gha   0-0  1-3  1-3x
Al-Merreikh              Sud  Tele SC Asmara           Eth   2-1  0-1  2-2  5-4p
Canon Yaoundé            Cam  AS Solidarité            Gab   7-3  2-1  9-4
ASC Diaraf               Sen  Stade Malien             Mli   3-0  0-4  3-4
Espérance                Tun  Al-Ahly (Benghazi)       Lby   0-0  1-0  1-0
Maseru United            Les  MMM Tamatave             Mad   1-2  2-3  3-5
AS Porto Novo            Dah  Victoria Club Mokanda    CoB   0-1  0-2  0-3
Secteur 6                Nig  Enugu Rangers            Nga   1-1  0-1  1-2
Young Africans           Tan  Lavori Publici           Som   2-0  0-0  2-0
AS Kaloum Star           Gui  bye
ASEC (Abidjan)           IvC  bye
Asante Kotoko            Gha  bye
Coffee                   Uga  bye
Dynamic Togolais         Tog  bye
Ismaili                  Egy  bye
AS Vita Club             Zai  bye
x Abaluhya United were later renamed AFC Leopards

Second Round
AS Kaloum Star           Gui  Enugu Rangers            Nga   3-3  1-2  4-5z
Al-Merreikh              Sud  Asante Kotoko            Gha   2-1  0-1  2-2  4-5p
Coffee FC                Uga  Young Africans           Tan      w/o       x
Ismaili                  Egy  Espérance                Tun      w/o       x
Stade Malien             Mli  ASEC (Abidjan)           IvC   2-2  1-2  3-4
MMM Tamatave             Mad  Great Olympics           Gha   2-1  0-7  2-8
Victoria Club Mokanda    CoB  Dynamic Togolais         Tog   1-2  0-2  1-4y
AS Vita Club             Zai  Canon Yaoundé            Cam   2-0  1-3  3-3  3-4p
x Young Africans and Espérance withdrew before 1st leg
y Dynamic Togolais were dissolved in 1974
z 1st leg May 16, 2nd leg May 29 in Port Harcourt

Quarterfinals
Coffee FC                Uga  Great Olympics           Gha   0-0  0-2  0-2
Dynamic Togolais         Tog  Canon Yaoundé            Cam   1-2  3-4  4-6
Enugu Rangers            Nga  ASEC (Abidjan)           IvC   0-1  0-2  0-3
Ismaili                  Egy  Asante Kotoko            Gha   0-0  0-3  0-3

Semifinals
ASEC (Abidjan)           IvC  Canon Yaoundé            Cam   2-1  1-4  3-5
Great Olympics           Gha  Asante Kotoko            Gha   1-1  0-1  1-2

Final (Dec 5 and 19)
Kumasi Stadium, Kumasi and Militaire Garoua, Yaoundé
Asante Kotoko            Gha  Canon Yaoundé            Cam   3-0  0-2x
x for the final, only points aggregate, not goals aggregate was considered

Final Playoff (Dec 21)
Militaire Garoua, Yaoundé
Canon Yaoundé            Cam  Asante Kotoko            Gha   abd
match abandoned at 1-0 to Canon Yaoundé, result stood

First African Champions' Cup for Canon (Yaounde) and second for Cameroon. Scandalous final, but Canon was awarded.

The heroes one by one. Only the French paid attention to the unknown African players – among them the great Jean Manga-Onguene. The centre-forward never moved to European club.