The new-look Club World Cup is a considerable change from the previous editions of the tournament, now with 32 teams and a month long festival of football, compared to just seven sides and only a week of action in the past.
The tournament was introduced by Fifa in 2000 an called the Club World Championship with the name changed to the Club World Cup six years later.
African clubs have participated in each tournament since the first in Brazil in 2000 when Morocco’s Raja Casablanca represented the continent.
But only twice have Africa seen a team reach the final, in 2010 and 2013.
TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2010:
The club from Lubumbashi, owned by Katanga Province governor Moise Katumbi, was the first from outside of Europe or South America to reach the final.
They served notice of their potential by beating Mexican heavyweights Pachuca in the second round, after which goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba earned worldwide coverage with his celebrations, bouncing around the pitch on his behind.
In the semifinal, Patou Kabangu and Alain Kaluyituka scored as they eliminated Brazil’s Internacional, whose fans had travelled to Abu Dhabi en masse expecting a repeat of Japan 2006, when they vanquished Ronaldinho and Barcelona to lift the trophy.
But Mazembe had other ideas and got to the deciding match against Inter Milan.
The Italians, with Samuel Eto’o in their ranks, became the first Italian side to collect five major trophies in a single calendar year as they brushed aside the Congolese club in the final.
Raja Casablanca of Morocco in 2013:
On home soil, the Raja also caused Brazilian heartbreak as they stunned Atlético Mineiro in Marrakesh in the semifinal, after having beaten Auckland City from New Zealand first and then Mexico’s Monterrey in the last eight.
Raja scored twice in the last 10 minutes to stun Atlético Mineiro after taking the lead through Mouhssine Iajour.
Former Barcelona star Ronaldinho curled a free-kick into the net to level for Mineiro, but Mohaine Moutaouali's penalty put Raja ahead, and Congo international Vivien Mabide wrapped up the win with a breakaway goal.
At the end of the match, Raja players surrounded the 33-year-old Ronaldinho to ask for his shirt.
Bayern Munich won the final in Rabat with two early goals settling matters.
PAST WINNERS
2000: Corinthians — Beat Vasco de Gama (0-0, won on penalties)
2005: São Paulo — Beat Liverpool 1-0
2006: Internacional — Beat Barcelona 1-0
2007: AC Milan — Beat Boca Juniors 4-2
2008: Manchester United — Beat LDU Quito 1-0
2009: Barcelona — Beat Estudiantes 2-1 (aet)
2010: Inter Milan — Beat TP Mazembe 3-0
2011: Barcelona — Beat Santos 4-0
2012: Corinthians — Beat Chelsea 1-0
2013: Bayern Munich — Beat Raja Casablanca 2-0
2014: Real Madrid — Beat San Lorenzo 2-0
2015: Barcelona — Beat River Plate 3-0
2016: Real Madrid — Beat Kashima Antlers 4-2 (aet)
2017: Real Madrid — Beat Grêmio 1-0
2018: Real Madrid — Beat Al-Ain 4-1
2019: Liverpool — Beat Flamengo 1-0 (aet)
2020: Bayern Munich — Beat UANL Tigres 1-0
2021: Chelsea— Beat Palmeiras 2-1 (aet)
2022: Real Madrid — Beat Al-Hilal 5-3
2023: Manchester City — Beat Fluminense 4-0
