The African Cup of Champions Clubs 1981 was the 17th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CAF region (Africa), the African Cup of Champions Clubs. 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.

First round

1 Benfica de Bissau withdrew. 2 Simba SC withdrew. 3 TP USCA Bangui failed to appear for the 2nd leg.

Second round

1 Horseed FC withdrew after the 1st leg.

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

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

Final

Champion

Top scorers

The top scorers from the 1981 African Cup of Champions Clubs are as follows:

Notification

JE Tizi Ouzou (Jeunesse Eléctronique de Tizi Ouzou) are now called JS Kabylie (Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie).