COCANEFA
 | |
| Abbreviation | COCANEFA |
|---|---|
| Formation | August 2209 |
| Type | Sports organisation |
| Headquarters | Cathair, Audioslavia |
Region served | Atlantian Oceania |
Membership | 9 full member associations |
Official language | English |
Parent organization | AOCAF |
| Website | COCANEFA Newswire |
COCANEFA, or in full, the Confederation Of Calanian And North-Eastern Football Associations, was founded by the national football associations of Mertagne (then known as The Inevitable Syndicate) and Audioslavia in 2209, shortly after World Cup 66.
The COCANEFA LigAnaia is the oldest and most well-known COCANEFA competition, and ran – in various forms – for fourteen years, before being dissolved after World Cup 75. In addition to LigAnaia, COCANEFA also organised the Repechage 49 (most commonly referred to as R49), which acted as a second division for both LigAnaia top flight divisions, as well as the COCANEFA Liga Calania and COCANEFA Cup – previously known as the CopAnaia; a knockout cup competition open to any and all teams from within the confederation's member nations.
Upon dissolution of the LigAnaia, member nations reverted to operating national leagues, which still function under the COCANEFA umbrella. It has been suggested that COCANEFA may reinstate the COCANEFA Cup in another format in the coming years, though nothing has yet been confirmed.
History
Inception and the North Eastern identity
Domestic football in Atlantian Oceania had typically been dominated by clubs from nations outwith the continent's North-Eastern quadrant, with Vanoran, Paripanian and Vilitan clubs having the most continued success. This hadn't been seen as a thing worth commenting on until the idea of the 'Glorious North East', a moniker given to nations from northern Calania, including The Inevitable Syndicate, Starblaydia, Krytenia and Legalese, and its eastern islands, including Osarius, Audioslavia, Wight and Cosumar, during periods of success for the above nations between World Cups 63 and 70.
Negotiations for a joint league began around the time of World Cup 65, at the same time as the football associations of Audioslavia and The Inevitable Syndicate had been negotiating a deal to co-host World Cup 66. The combined league, originally given the title 'Liga Batiob' due to advertising reasons, was dubbed the 'LigAnaia' – Anaia meaning "brothers" – and the first season began before World Cup 67.
Seasons 1-2
Sixteen teams were elected to the first LigAnaia for season one. Eight came from the professional Syndicatian leagues, formerly the Claycomms Premier League, while six amateur Audioslavian clubs, formerly from the little-known Corinthian League, joined the fray.
The switch to professionalism for Audioslavian clubs resulted in success in these first two seasons, as first AC Izotz Zubia and then 1830 Cathair took home league championships, but neither these champions nor their Syndicatian rivals managed more than a couple of games in the UICA tournaments, belying the league's weaknesses in terms of talent.
Seasons 3-4
A Second Division, dubbed the LigAnaia Two, was founded for season three, and with it came another change, in that a number of Starblaydi clubs joined the league. Starblaydia had provided a number of World Champion clubs in ancient times, but had not been seen on the international scene in the years preceding season three. Season 3 would also see The Inevitable Syndicate become The Calanian Union, with Fligsive FC marking the occasion by winning the first and, to date, only championship win by a Calanian club.
Season four saw the arrival of clubs from Legalese as the LigAnaia expanded yet again. 1830 Cathair would win their second title this year, underlining the early Audioslavian dominance of the LigAnaia.
Seasons 5-8
Further seasons saw further expansion, as teams representing Ibex, Western Sunrise and Perlasilangan were added, but it was the influx of Osarian clubs that truly saw the LigAnaia progress from a regional sideshow to an international success in terms of popularity and viewing figures. A third and fourth league title for 1830 Cathair and a first championship for Hastmead Diamante would set the tone for the two teams' domination in later seasons.
Seasons 9-14
After initially slimming down by losing the West Sunrisian and Perlasilanganese clubs, the league expanded yet again by accepting clubs from Krytenia, The Royal Kingdom of Quebec and Semarland and split into first two, and then three, separate leagues — The LigAnaia: East (Audioslavia, Osarius, Legalese), The LigAnaia: North (Semarland, Royal Kingdom of Quebec and Mertagne) and the Liga Calania (Starblaydia and Krytenia). Cosumar's entrance into COCANEFA for season 12 increased this league count to four, with the rebranding of the Harlighet Ligan to the COCANEFA Harlighet Ligan.
The period would see LigAnaia gain its first World Champion club as 1830 Cathair won the Champions Cup. There were AOCL titles for Magnaeus City – since rebranded 'Blades ex Magnaeus' after moving from the stricken Calanian Union to Mertagne – and Fligsive FC, and more intercontinental honours in the form of Cathair's UICA Super Cup and Cygnus Cup.
Season 14 would be the final installment of the LigAnaia, after league executives voted in favour of dissolving the multinational top flight in order to allow member nations to focus on internal development.
LigAnaia history
As the LigAnaia has changed in size throughout its existence, the structure of the league pyramid has also changed. From an original configuration of one league of sixteen teams from two nations, to a multi-divisional top flight spanning six nations, these changes have necessitated alterations to the competition format over time. These changes have most notably impacted the confederation's top flight.
One league format
Between seasons one and eight, the LigAnaia (or LigAnaia One) was the single, highest tier of COCANEFA football.
| Season | Divisions | Teams (tier one) | Teams (total) | Champions | Runners Up | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 16 | 16 |  AC Izotz Zubia |
 Burgess FC |
Nostromo Meteorites
|
| 2 | 1 | 16 | 16 | 1830 Cathair |
Fligsive FC |
Burgess FC
|
| 3 | 2 | 20 | 40 |  Fligsive FC |
1830 Cathair |
Westonbirt City
|
| 4 | 2 | 24 | 48 | 1830 Cathair |
Fligsive FC |
 Comunas Cougars
|
| 5 | 4 | 22 | 90 | AC Izotz Zubia |
Fligsive FC |
Magnaeus City[1]
|
| 6 | 4 | 22 | 90 | 1830 Cathair |
AC Izotz Zubia |
 Hastmead Diamante
|
| 7 | 4 | 22 | 90 | Hastmead Diamante |
 Iskara Daii |
1830 Cathair
|
| 8 | 4 | 22 | 90 | 1830 Cathair |
Magnaeus City |
Comunas Cougars
|
Multiple region format
After five seasons running one top tier and multiple regional tiers below, the LigAnaia pyramid was inverted at the start of season nine. One larger second division now feeds into two top tiers; one in the north and one in the east. The Liga Calania (also referred to as the Liga CalAnaia) was also restarted in season eleven, and is contested between Krytenian and Starblaydi clubs, separate from the LigAnaia pyramid, but still under the COCANEFA umbrella.
Under the multiple region format, the champions of the Eastern and Northern leagues play one another on neutral territory in a Grand Final matchup to decide the COCANEFA League Championship. It is notable that, under the multiple regions format, no LigAnaia North champion won a grand final.
| Season | Leagues | Teams (tier one) | Teams (total) | COCANEFA Champions | LigAnaia East Champions | LigAnaia North Champions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 3 | 40 | 89 | Hastmead Diamante |
Hastmead Diamante |
 Montreal Koreana
|
| 10 | 3 | 40 | 89 | Hastmead Diamante |
Hastmead Diamante |
 Ousevale Borough
|
| 11 | 3 | 40 | 89 | 1830 Cathair |
1830 Cathair |
 FC Jansberg
|
| 12 | 3 | 40 | 89 |  Monarchs |
Monarchs |
St. John's Arsenal
|
| 13 | 3 | 40 | 89 | AC Izotz Zubia |
AC Izotz Zubia |
St. John's Arsenal
|
| 14 | 3 | 40 | 89 | Hastmead Diamante |
Hastmead Diamante |
 Blades ex Magnaeus
|
Honours
Before the split into multiple regions, the winners of the LigAnaia was considered COCANEFA Champion. Since the split, COCANEFA awards the LigAnaia Championship trophy to the team that wins the Grand Final matchup. As the Liga Calania is deemed separate from the LigAnaia pyramid, no Krytenian or Starblaydi teams play in the R49. Similarly, no Cosumarite teams play in the LigAnaia or R49 either, as the Harlighet Ligan and subsequent tiers below it are also considered separate leagues to the LigAnaia.
The following clubs have won the LigAnaia:
| Team | Number of titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| 1830 Cathair |
5 | 2, 4, 6, 8, 11 |
| Hastmead Diamante |
4 | 7, 9, 10, 14 |
| AC Izotz Zubia |
3 | 1, 5, 13 |
| Fligsive FC |
1 | 3 |
| Monarchs |
1 | 12 |
National Champions
- See also: List of COCANEFA national champions
Each season, the highest finishing team of each nation is given the title 'national champion', along with a trophy. This is also relevant when submitting COCANEFA entries to UICA competition, as national champions take a different path in the UICA Champions Cup to other entrants. Upon winning the league, the LigAnaia champions will ordinarily be presented with their national championship trophy prior to being presented with the LigAnaia Championship trophy.
The final national champions (season 14) can be seen below:
| Mertian champion | Blades ex Magnaeus
|
| Audioslavian champion | 1830 Cathair
|
| Starblaydi champion | Telecontarë
|
| Legalite champion | International of Tyrellia
|
| Osarian champion | Hastmead Diamante
|
| Krytenian champion | Avidia United
|
| Quebecois champion | St. John's Arsenal
|
| Semar champion | FC Jansberg
|
| Schiavone champion | Monarchs
|
COCANEFA Cup winners
The COCANEFA Cup (previously known as the CopAnaia) is a knockout tournament open to all clubs, professional and amateur, from COCANEFA's constituent nations. The cup was first contested in seasons three and four, but was then scrapped in favour of national cup tournaments for each nation. The cup was reinstated in season eight, and national cups scrapped. As of season twelve, 367 teams enter the COCANEFA Cup across all nine nations of the confederation. To date, no club has won the COCANEFA Cup more than once.
| Season | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not contested | |
| 2 | ||
| 3 | Oljestaden IF
| |
| 4 | Tyrellia Titans
| |
| 5 | Not contested | |
| 6 | ||
| 7 | ||
| 8 | Comunas Cougars
| |
| 9 | Avidia United
| |
| 10 | 1830 Cathair
| |
| 11 | Blades ex Magnaeus
| |
| 12 |  AC Holmenkollen
| |
| 13 | Trothwands Evolution
| |
| 14 | Iskara Daii
| |
National Cup winners
Between seasons four and six, COCANEFA ran separate national cup competitions for each member nation. These cups were later scrapped and the COCANEFA Cup reinstated as the sole COCANEFA-operated cup competition for member association clubs.
The winners of each nation's national cup are listed below:
| Cup Name | Season 4 | Season 5 | Season 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syndicatian Cup |
Burgess FC | Burgess FC | Westonbirt City |
| Audioslavian Cup |
AC Izotz Zubia | KT Itzalovalle | AC Izotz Zubia |
| Copa Starblaydia |
Corinthian Spirits | Iskara Daii | Iskara Daii |
| Federation Open Cup |
Tyrellia Titans | Knights of Tiberia | International of Tyrellia |
| Osarian Cup |
N/A | Hastmead Diamante | Shanak FC |
 Ibex Cup |
N/A | Tall | Batal |
| Perlasilanganese Cup |
N/A | UD Lopez | Atletico Gonzales |
International honours
Iskara Daii are former winners of the NS Champions League (the precursor to the UICA Champions Cup), while Krytenia's Royal Emberton and Osarian club Firewood City are former Champions Cup winners. Grasshoppers Turic, Avidia United and Casuals Osteria are all former Globe Cup winners, and Osarian club Kyoshiku Island have won the UICA Series B Champions Cup. In addition, Firewood City have lifted the Cygnus Cup. However, none of these triumphs came while the teams competed under the COCANEFA banner.
Of note is the dominance of COCANEFA clubs – specifically Mertian clubs – in the Atlantian Oceania Champions League. Between UICA seasons 59 and 63, every AOCL winner was a Mertian club, including three back-to-back triumphs for Fligsive FC, before Raynor City United broke the streak in UICA season 64. It should, however, be noted that the losing finalist that year was a COCANEFA team (Trothwands Evolution), as was the losing finalist the following year (Blades ex Magnaeus).
Below is a list of COCANEFA teams who have won international competitions:
(Note: The season number refers to the relevant UICA cycle)
| Club | UICA honours | Other international honours |
|---|---|---|
| 1830 Cathair |
Champions Cup (season 59) Super Cup (season 59) Youth Cup (season 64) |
Cygnus Cup (season 62) |
| Blades ex Magnaeus[2] |
Globe Cup (season 62) Youth Cup (season 63) |
AOCL (seasons 59, 60) |
| AC Izotz Zubia |
Champions Cup (season 63) | |
| FC Southern Ninestar[3] |
SBCC (season 57) | |
| Tenth Star Hasiera |
SBCC (season 59) | |
| KT Koroatuz |
SBCC (season 63) | |
| Fligsive FC |
AOCL (seasons 61, 62, 63) |
In addition to trophies won, two teams from COCANEFA nations have been rated as the best club side in the multiverse according to UICA coefficients. 1830 Cathair ranked number one after season 59, and Blades ex Magnaeus after seasons 60 and 64.
References