Zamalek clear final hurdles for CAF licence after settling FIFA disputes

Zamalek say they have successfully resolved all FIFA-related cases that threatened their eligibility for a CAF licence and, with it, their participation in next season’s CAF Champions League.

The Cairo club won the Egyptian Premier League title last season, securing a place in Africa’s elite club competition, but had been at risk of missing out because of sanctions imposed by FIFA over unpaid dues to former coaches and players.

Zamalek vice-president Eng Hisham Nasr confirmed that the board had now closed every case connected to the African club licensing file at FIFA, after paying the outstanding sums required to meet the conditions for obtaining the CAF licence.

Speaking to the club’s official app “Zamalkawy” on Thursday, Nasr said: “The board of directors, headed by captain Hussein Labib, placed this file at the top of its priorities in recent months, in order to guarantee that Zamalek obtain the African licence and participate in continental competitions without any obstacles.”

Key cases settled

Nasr explained that Zamalek formed a special committee, chaired by club president Hussein Labib, to deal specifically with the financial requirements linked to the licensing process.

“Over the past period we formed a committee headed by captain Hussein Labib, the club president, which worked on securing and collecting the financial amounts needed to close this file completely,” he said.

The committee’s work led to Zamalek settling the dues owed to Ukrainian club Oleksandriya, in addition to the outstanding payments to player Ibrahima Ndiaye.

According to Nasr, paying these amounts enabled the club to “close the two cases definitively in relation to the African licence”.

‘Extremely difficult’ disputes

Nasr described the two disputes as among the most complicated issues facing the club in its effort to secure the CAF licence.

“They were extremely difficult cases, and we faced obstacles from external parties,” he said. “But in the end we succeeded in resolving the crisis.”

The vice-president stressed that the resolution was the result of sustained work by the current board to deal with all obligations highlighted in the licensing file.

“This achievement came after great effort from the board of directors, which was keen to settle all the commitments required in this file,” he added, saying it demonstrated the club’s determination to comply with regulations and “protect Zamalek’s right to participate in continental competitions”.

Focus on long-term stability

Nasr concluded by underlining that the board’s efforts would not stop with the completion of the immediate licensing requirements.

He said the administration would continue working to settle all outstanding issues facing the club, with the aim of ensuring institutional stability and supporting the first team in the coming period.

“[The board] will continue to work on settling all files in a way that achieves stability for the club and supports the team’s journey in the next phase,” he said.

While Zamalek have not yet announced formal confirmation of the CAF licence itself, club officials are presenting the closure of all FIFA-related cases and full payment of debts tied to the licensing criteria as the final step needed to secure their place in the CAF Champions League next season.