The Confederation of African Football has increased the number of players clubs can register for its Interclub competitions from the previous limit to 40, in a move designed to give teams greater flexibility during the continental season.
The decision was approved during a virtual meeting of the CAF Executive Committee chaired by president Patrice Motsepe on Friday, 2 October 2026.
The new regulations are intended to help clubs cope with the demands of competing on domestic and continental fronts, particularly during periods of fixture congestion.
CAF’s changes could also assist teams dealing with injuries, player fatigue and the demands of travelling across Africa during a lengthy campaign.
Under the revised rules, clubs will also be permitted to make changes to their squads during the final registration period. Teams can replace as many as four players, although there is an important restriction on who can be removed from the list.
A player being replaced must not have appeared in a CAF Interclub match for the club during the same campaign.
Another significant change is the abolition of the cup-tied rule.
The change means a footballer who has already played for one participating club in CAF Interclub competition can subsequently represent another club in the same campaign.
The regulation could be particularly important during the mid-season transfer window, when clubs traditionally seek to strengthen their squads ahead of the decisive stages of continental competitions.
Under the previous restriction, players who had already appeared for another participating club could face limitations on their ability to take part for a new team. The removal of that restriction gives clubs more options when making changes to their squads.
The expanded registration allowance also provides teams with greater scope to manage their players throughout the season.
With clubs often required to balance domestic fixtures with continental matches, the increased limit could prove useful when teams encounter injuries or fatigue among their players.
The demands of travel across Africa are another factor behind the greater flexibility offered under the new regulations.
However, CAF has retained some existing requirements governing player eligibility.
Clubs must still register new players at least 72 hours before kick-off if those players are to be eligible to take part in a match.
The deadline remains an important condition for teams seeking to add players to their squads during the competition.
There has also been no change to the number of substitutes and technical staff clubs can have on the matchday bench.
Teams will continue to be permitted to name nine substitutes and nine members of their technical staff.
The changes form part of decisions reached by CAF’s Executive Committee as it reviews the regulations governing its Interclub competitions.
For clubs, the increased squad size and ability to replace up to four players could provide additional options as competitions progress and the demands on squads increase.
The removal of the cup-tied restriction is potentially the most significant change for clubs looking to recruit players during the season, particularly those seeking reinforcements for the later rounds.
Players who have previously appeared for another participating club will now have the possibility of representing a different club in CAF Interclub competition during the same campaign.
Despite the greater freedom, clubs will still have to meet CAF’s registration deadline before using new players in matches.
The combination of a 40-player squad limit, limited replacement opportunities and the removal of the cup-tied restriction gives clubs more room to manage their squads while retaining specific safeguards around eligibility.
The new measures are expected to give participating teams greater flexibility as they negotiate the physical and logistical demands of domestic and continental football.
