CAF Divided Over Increasing African Club Slots.. Al Ahly Awaits the Final Decision

The Confederation of African Football "CAF" is witnessing debate over a proposal to increase the number of clubs participating in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, as the competitions await the final decision while Egyptian clubs monitor developments

  Mon , July 13 2026 / 04:36 PM Updated At: 2026-07-13 16:36:08

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Division Inside CAF Over the Future of African Competitions 🔥🏆

The Confederation of African Football "CAF" is currently witnessing major discussions and internal disagreement regarding a proposal to increase the number of clubs participating in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

The issue has attracted significant attention from national football associations and major clubs across the continent, as the proposal aims to develop African competitions and provide more clubs with opportunities to compete at the continental level.

The controversy began after the Egyptian Football Association submitted an official proposal requesting a review of the current qualification system, while Egyptian clubs, especially Al Ahly, are closely following the final decision.


🇪🇬 Egyptian Proposal to Increase Participation

The Egyptian proposal was submitted by Hany Abu Rida, President of the Egyptian Football Association, who called for reconsidering the distribution of qualification places in African competitions.

The proposal is based on the recent progress of African football, including the strong performances of national teams and clubs in international competitions.

The idea suggests giving each CAF member association an additional place in both the Champions League and Confederation Cup, with the distribution depending on association rankings and domestic competition strength.

According to the proposal, highly ranked countries could receive the opportunity to participate with three clubs in each competition, with additional teams starting from the preliminary rounds.

This system would increase the number of matches and improve the technical level of African competitions. 🔥


❌ CAF Competitions Committee Rejects Immediate Implementation

Despite the importance of the proposal, the CAF Competitions Committee remains against applying the changes starting from the 2026-2027 season.

The committee believes that changing the qualification system at this stage could create organizational difficulties, especially since CAF has already informed national associations about their allocated places for the upcoming season.

The committee prefers postponing any changes until the 2027-2028 season, allowing enough time for proper planning and adjustments.


⭐ Motsepe Supports Reviewing the Proposal

On the other side, CAF President Patrice Motsepe has shown a different position by expressing interest in studying the Egyptian proposal.

Motsepe requested that the Egyptian Football Association’s letter be officially referred to the competitions committee for evaluation, showing a willingness within CAF leadership to reconsider the current competition structure.

Supporters of the proposal believe increasing the number of participating clubs would improve competition quality, provide more opportunities for emerging teams, and increase financial revenues through broadcasting and commercial rights. 💰⚽


🦅 Al Ahly and Egyptian Clubs Await the Final Decision

Egyptian clubs, especially Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Pyramids, are closely monitoring the developments of this important file.

Al Ahly is particularly interested due to its long history in African competitions and its continuous ambition to compete for the CAF Champions League title.

If the proposal is approved in the future, Egyptian football could benefit from increased representation in continental tournaments, creating stronger competition and more opportunities for success. 🏆


📢 Final Decision Remains With CAF Executive Committee

The CAF Executive Committee is expected to make the final decision during its upcoming meeting, either approving the competitions committee’s recommendation to maintain the current system or opening the door for the new format in future seasons.

The proposal to increase African club participation remains one of the biggest issues discussed inside CAF, as different parties seek to improve the quality and commercial value of continental competitions.

Between the competitions committee’s rejection and Motsepe’s support for studying the idea, clubs and associations across Africa are waiting for the final decision that could reshape the future of African football. 🔥⚽

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