Zamalek race to settle Ibrahim Ndaiye debt in bid to save African licence

Zamalek are locked in urgent talks to resolve a $1.7m debt owed to former winger Ibrahim Ndaiye, as the Cairo club battles to secure its licence to compete in next season’s African competitions.

The Egyptian giants must close the case before 25 July to avoid being barred from the CAF Champions League or Confederation Cup, a club source has told FilGoal.com.

‘Positive developments’ in Ndaiye case

A source inside Zamalek said negotiations with the Senegalese player over his overdue wages had intensified in recent days.

The source told FilGoal.com: “هناك تطورات ايجابية في قضية مستحقات ابراهيما نداي”.

He added: “كثفنا المفاوضات مع اللاعب وممثليه والمحامي خلال الـ 48 ساعة الماضية”.

The official said the club was pushing to reach a final settlement soon.

واتم “نسعى للوصول لاتفاق نهايي خلال الساعات المقبلة لحل الامر بشكل نهايي”.

Zamalek hope an agreement will allow the club to obtain the necessary licence from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which requires teams to prove they have no outstanding financial disputes with former players or staff.

$1.7m deadline before CAF decision

Ndaiye, whose full name is commonly rendered as Ibrahim Ndaiye, is owed around $1.7m in unpaid dues, according to the source.

CAF’s club licensing rules stipulate that sides with unresolved financial cases risk exclusion from continental tournaments. Zamalek therefore face a tight race against time to complete the deal before the 25 July deadline set for settling the player’s claim.

Failure to do so could see the White Knights miss out on African competition for at least one season, a major sporting and financial setback for one of Egypt’s most successful clubs.

Ndaiye’s spell at Zamalek

Ndaiye joined Zamalek in the summer of 2022 from Swiss side Luzern and left the Cairo club in the summer of 2024.

During his two-year stint, he made 52 appearances in all competitions, scoring 10 goals and providing five assists.

He was part of the squad that lifted the CAF Confederation Cup in the 2023-24 season, adding a continental trophy to Zamalek’s honours and enhancing his own profile in African club football.

FIFA case load reduced but pressure remains

The Ndaiye dispute is one of several legal and financial issues Zamalek have been working to resolve at international level.

The club’s number of active cases at FIFA has been reduced to five, one of which concerns a disciplinary transfer ban. This indicates that Zamalek have recently succeeded in closing or settling a number of earlier disputes that had been filed against them.

However, two cases remain directly linked to the club’s eligibility for a CAF licence. These involve:

– The transfer of Juan Pizarro from Ukrainian side Oleksandriya – The outstanding payments owed to Ibrahim Ndaiye

Both cases must be cleared to ensure the club’s participation in continental competitions is not jeopardised.

High stakes for Zamalek’s African ambitions

Zamalek, historically one of Africa’s most decorated clubs, view participation in CAF tournaments as central to their sporting ambitions and financial planning. Revenue from prize money, broadcasting, sponsorship and ticket sales is closely tied to their presence on the continental stage.

Club officials now face a race against the clock to turn what they describe as “positive developments” into a signed agreement, with the outcome set to shape Zamalek’s African campaign in the 2026-27 season.