Al Ahly SC have officially failed to qualify for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League, ending a remarkable 23-year run of consecutive appearances in Africa’s premier club competition.
Despite securing a 2-0 victory over Al Masry SC on the final day of the Egyptian Premier League season, results elsewhere confirmed that Al Ahly would finish third in the standings.
That outcome means Egypt’s two CAF Champions League places will instead go to league champions Zamalek SC and runners-up Pyramids FC.
It marks the first time since 2003 that the Cairo giants will not participate in the continent’s biggest club tournament, representing one of the most disappointing seasons in the club’s modern history.
Al Ahly’s failure to secure qualification followed an unusually inconsistent domestic campaign in which the 12-time African champions struggled to maintain their traditional dominance in the Egyptian Premier League.
The club also lost a crucial continental safety net after being eliminated in the CAF Champions League semi-finals by Mamelodi Sundowns during the 2024/25 season.
In previous years, Al Ahly were often able to qualify automatically for the next edition of the competition as reigning African champions even when domestic form fluctuated.
However, without successfully defending their continental crown, the Red Devils were left relying entirely on their league position to qualify.
The campaign ultimately ended with only the Egyptian Super Cup added to the club’s trophy collection, far below expectations for one of Africa’s most decorated football institutions.
As a result of their third-place finish, Al Ahly are now set to compete in the CAF Confederation Cup for the 2026/27 season.
The secondary continental competition will represent only the second Confederation Cup appearance in the club’s history, with the first coming in 2014 — a tournament they went on to win.
Reports earlier in the season suggested that club officials had discussed the possibility of skipping the Confederation Cup in favour of focusing on the proposed African Football League project due to its greater financial incentives.
However, sources close to the club have since clarified that Al Ahly remain committed to participating in all official CAF competitions and will honour their Confederation Cup place.
The failure to qualify for the Champions League is expected to trigger major reflection inside the club, with pressure likely to grow for significant changes both on and off the pitch ahead of next season.
Attention will now shift toward rebuilding the squad and restoring Al Ahly’s status at the summit of African football after one of the most difficult campaigns the club has experienced in more than two decades
