Egyptian Premier League clubs back Diab for new EFA clubs’ body vote

Egyptian Premier League clubs have overwhelmingly endorsed Ahmed Diab to continue leading the country’s professional clubs’ association ahead of key elections next week, a senior Egyptian Football Association (EFA) source has revealed.

Sixteen top-flight clubs have formally nominated Diab to represent them on the board of the Egyptian Professional Clubs Association (Rabta al-Andiya) for the 2026-2027 season, the source told the outlet.

The EFA had earlier published the full list of candidates standing for the new board of the Premier League clubs’ body, which oversees the organisation and commercial running of the top division.

Four giants name their own representatives

While the majority of Premier League sides have chosen to rally behind Diab as their joint representative, four of Egypt’s biggest clubs have instead opted to put forward their own individual candidates to sit on the association’s board.

The EFA source said: “16 ناديا رشحوا احمد دياب لتمثيلهم في رابطة الاندية، بينما اختارت 4 اندية ممثليها”.

He added that the four clubs in question are Al Ahly, Zamalek, Al Masry and Tala’ea El Gaish, each of which has selected a specific figure to act on its behalf within the league’s governing structure.

He explained: “الاهلي اختار: ابراهيم الكفراوي – الزمالك: خالد رفعت – المصري: محمد شعبان الخولي – طلايع الجيش: اللواء خالد شكري”.

These choices highlight the influence of Egypt’s traditional powerhouses in shaping the future direction of the Premier League’s governance, with all four clubs choosing to assert a direct voice in the association rather than aligning behind the collective Diab ticket.

Election set for 27 July

The EFA has formally summoned all member clubs to attend the general assembly to elect the new board of the Professional Clubs Association, which is scheduled to be held on Monday 27 July at 17:00 local time.

The vote will take place at the National Teams Centre in the Sixth of October City, on the outskirts of Cairo, a facility which has increasingly become the hub for major administrative and technical decisions in Egyptian football.

According to the EFA, the elections on 27 July will produce the full board of directors tasked with running the clubs’ association throughout the 2026-2027 football season.

Diab’s tenure since 2021

Ahmed Diab has served as chairman of the Egyptian Professional Clubs Association since it was first launched in 2021, a period during which the body has been gradually expanding its role in the management and commercial development of domestic competitions.

The association is responsible for organising and administering Egypt’s main professional football tournaments, most notably the Egyptian Premier League and the League Cup, as well as coordinating with the EFA on scheduling, broadcast arrangements and commercial rights.

If formally confirmed through the upcoming vote, Diab’s new mandate would see him preside over an expanded top flight, with the Premier League in the 2026-2027 campaign set to be contested by 20 clubs.

The increase in the number of teams adds financial and logistical pressures to the calendar, intensifying the importance of a stable and unified leadership at the clubs’ association as it seeks to balance sporting integrity, fixture congestion and revenue generation across Egypt’s most-watched football competition.