The 1981 season of the African Cup Winners' Cup football club tournament was won by Union Douala in two-legged final victory against Stationary Stores F.C. This was the seventh season that the tournament took place for the winners of each African country's domestic cup. Thirty-two sides entered the competition, with Estrela Negra de Bissau, Coastal Union, El Zamalek, Mbabane Highlanders, CS Nere, Zoundourma and Espérance Sportive de Tunis all withdrawing before the 1st leg of the first round and AS Saint Michael withdrawing after the 1st leg of the first round. No preliminary round took place during this season of the competition.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April - 5 December 1981 |
| Teams | 32 (from 1 confederation) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Union Douala (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  Stationery Stores F.C. |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 47 |
| Goals scored | 127 (2.7 per match) |
← 1980 1982 → | |
First round
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CAPS United F.C. 
|
w/o |  AS Saint Michel
|
8-1 | — |
Gbessia AC 
|
w/o |  Estrela Negra de Bissau
|
— | — |
Gor Mahia 
|
w/o |  Coastal Union
|
— | — |
Lavori Publici 
|
w/o |  Zamalek SC
|
— | — |
Lubumbashi Sport 
|
4-4 (a) |  FC 105 Libreville
|
4-3 | 0-1 |
Kadiogo FC 
|
4-4 (a) |  AC Semassi F.C.
|
3-2 | 1-2 |
Kampala City Council FC 
|
1-2 |  EP Sétif
|
1-0 | 0-2 |
Matlama FC 
|
1-3 |  Power Dynamos F.C.
|
1-1 | 0-2 |
Nacional Benguela 
|
1-13 | Union Douala
|
1-7 | 0-6 |
Palmeiras de Beira 
|
w/o |  Mbabane Highlanders
|
— | — |
Réveil Club de Daloa 
|
2-2 (a) |  Djoliba AC
|
2-1 | 0-1 |
Real Republicans 
|
3-2 |  ASC Jeanne d'Arc
|
2-2 | 1-4 |
Sekondi Hasaacas F.C. 
|
w/o |  CS Nere
|
— | — |
| Stationery Stores F.C.
|
1-1 (5-4 p) |  Al-Ahly (Benghazi)
|
1-0 | 0-1 |
| Tout Puissant Mazembe
|
7-0 |  ASDR Fatima
|
5-0 | 2-0 |
Zoundourma 
|
Cancelled1 |  Espérance Sportive de Tunis
|
— | — |
- 1:Both teams withdrew before 1st leg.
Second round
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPS United F.C.
|
1-1 (1-3 p) | Stationery Stores F.C.
|
1-0 | 0-1 |
| Djoliba AC
|
4-0 | AC Semassi F.C.
|
3-0 | 1-0 |
| FC 105 Libreville
|
1-4 | Union Douala
|
1-3 | 0-1 |
| Gor Mahia
|
3-1 | Lavori Publici
|
3-0 | 0-1 |
| Palmeiras de Beira
|
1-6 | Power Dynamos F.C.
|
1-1 | 0-5 |
| Real Republicans
|
1-4 | Gbessia AC
|
1-2 | 0-2 |
| Sekondi Hasaacas F.C.
|
3-1 | TP Mazembe
|
2-1 | 1-0 |
| EP Sétif
|
bye1 |
- 1:EP Sétif were to play the winners of Zoundourma vs Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
Quarterfinals
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Djoliba AC
|
2-1 | Gor Mahia
|
2-0 | 0-1 |
| Gbessia AC
|
1-4 | Stationery Stores F.C.
|
0-1 | 1-3 |
| Power Dynamos F.C.
|
2-3 | Sekondi Hasaacas F.C.
|
1-0 | 1-3 |
| Union Douala
|
6-1 | EP Sétif
|
5-0 | 1-1 |
Semifinals
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stationery Stores F.C.
|
1-0 | Djoliba AC
|
0-0 | 1-0 |
| Union Douala
|
4-4 (a) | Sekondi Hasaacas F.C.
|
2-1 | 2-3 |
Final
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Douala
|
2-1 | Stationery Stores F.C.
|
0-0 | 2-1 |
| African Cup Winners' Cup Winners |
|---|
 Union Douala First title |