Egyptian Football Association president Hani Abu Rida has asked the Confederation of African Football to increase Egypt’s allocation of places in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, with Al Ahly and Al Masry among the clubs that could benefit.
Egypt currently enters two teams in each of CAF’s main club competitions.
The Egyptian Football Association has requested that this allocation be increased to six clubs in total, with three teams competing in the Champions League and three in the Confederation Cup.
Sources said CAF had given positive indications in response to the request, although no final decision has yet been announced.
If the proposal is approved, Al Ahly would be set to qualify for the CAF Champions League after finishing third in last season’s Egyptian league, while Al Masry would be expected to secure a place in the Confederation Cup.
The additional places would begin from the preliminary rounds of the competitions.
Egypt seeks expanded continental representation
The Egyptian Football Association confirmed in an official statement that Abu Rida had submitted the request to CAF.
The move follows discussions about expanding the number of clubs that can represent member associations in the two continental tournaments.
Under the current arrangement, Egypt is represented by two clubs in the Champions League and two in the Confederation Cup.
The new proposal would allow Egypt to enter three clubs in each competition, increasing the country’s total representation from four to six teams.
The request is linked to the achievements of African federations involved in the 2026 World Cup, according to the Egyptian Football Association’s statement.
It proposes that each CAF member federation should receive an additional continental place, with the final distribution determined by CAF’s ranking criteria and regulations.
That system could allow some national associations to have three representatives in the Champions League and three in the Confederation Cup.
Al Ahly and Al Masry stand to gain
Should CAF approve the request, Zamalek would represent Egypt in the next Champions League as league champions.
Pyramids, who finished second in the Egyptian league, would take the second qualifying place.
Al Ahly, who ended the previous league season in third position, would receive the additional Champions League place.
This would make the club one of the clearest beneficiaries of the expanded allocation.
The proposed Confederation Cup places would go to Zed, who finished as runners-up in the Egyptian Cup, along with Ceramica Cleopatra and Al Masry.
Ceramica Cleopatra and Al Masry finished fourth and fifth respectively in the league standings.
Al Masry would therefore gain a route into the Confederation Cup under the proposed six-club allocation.
The possibility of greater Egyptian representation could also increase the country’s influence in continental club football, particularly if more teams are able to progress beyond the preliminary rounds.
CAF decision awaited
The Egyptian Football Association has not confirmed a timetable for CAF to issue a final ruling.
However, sources indicated that the current direction was towards approval of Egypt’s request.
Any decision would be subject to CAF’s established regulations and ranking system, which would determine which federations qualify for the extra places.
If confirmed, the change would alter the qualification picture for the coming season and provide an additional opportunity for Egyptian clubs to compete on the African stage.
For Al Ahly, it could secure a place in the Champions League despite their third-place league finish.
For Al Masry, it could mean a return to continental competition through the Confederation Cup.
The final decision now rests with CAF, but Egypt’s request has created the prospect of a larger domestic presence in Africa’s leading club tournaments.
