Zamalek settle Ibrahima Ndiaye and Oleksandriya disputes to clear path for Champions League return

Zamalek have resolved their financial disputes with Senegalese forward Ibrahima Ndiaye and Ukrainian club Oleksandriya as the Cairo side race to secure their CAF licence for next season’s Champions League.

The club has completed the payment of all outstanding sums owed to Ndiaye and to Oleksandriya relating to the transfer of Brazilian player Juan Bezerra, according to information obtained by FilGoal.com.

Zamalek will now send proof of the bank transfers to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport so that both cases can be formally closed and the associated sanctions lifted.

The two disputes had led to transfer registration bans being imposed in favour of Oleksandriya, placing additional pressure on Zamalek’s efforts to clear all issues affecting their eligibility for an African club competition licence.

Zamalek meet Oleksandriya’s demands

A source at Zamalek told FilGoal.com that the club’s board had been in contact with Oleksandriya officials in recent weeks in an attempt to reach a compromise over the amount due.

The source explained that Zamalek initially asked to pay the outstanding figure in instalments, but Oleksandriya rejected that proposal and insisted on receiving the full amount in a single payment.

“ادارة الزمالك تواصلت بالفعل مع مسوولي النادي الاوكراني خلال الفترة الماضية، وطلبت جدولة المبلغ المستحق، الا ان اوليكساندريا رفض هذا المقترح، وتمسك بالحصول على كامل مستحقاته دفعة واحدة”، قال المصدر.

He added that Zamalek’s management ultimately agreed to the Ukrainian club’s conditions, succeeded in securing the full sum and began procedures to transfer the money to Oleksandriya.

“ادارة الزمالك استجابت لطلب النادي الاوكراني، ونجحت في توفير قيمة المستحقات بالكامل، وبدات بالفعل اجراءات تحويل المبلغ الى اوليكساندريا”، واصل المصدر.

The same source stressed that completing the transfers was a deliberate move to bring the disputes to an end and remove the transfer ban imposed in favour of Oleksandriya.

“ تحويل المستحقات ياتي في اطار انهاء هذا الملف بشكل نهايي، واسدال الستار على القضيتين الصادر فيهما احكام بايقاف القيد لصالح النادي الاوكراني، ضمن تحركات الزمالك لانهاء جميع الملفات المتعلقة بالحصول على الرخصة الافريقية”، شدد المصدر.

CAF licence deadline looms

Zamalek had been working against the clock, with 25 July set as the final date to meet CAF’s requirements for the African club competition licence.

Through its official “Zamalkawy” application, the club announced that it has now settled all FIFA-related cases that could impact its CAF licensing file and its participation in the CAF Champions League next season.

Only one unresolved issue remains: a disciplinary transfer suspension linked to the case of Moroccan player Salah Eddine Mossadeq. That matter does not affect Zamalek’s ability to obtain the African licence, but it continues to restrict the club’s activity in the transfer market.

Return to the Champions League

Zamalek will take part in the CAF Champions League as champions of the Egyptian Premier League.

Their appearance in the competition marks the end of a three-year absence from Africa’s elite club tournament, during which they competed instead in the CAF Confederation Cup.

In that period, Zamalek won the Confederation Cup title in 2024 and reached the final again in 2026, finishing as runners-up.

By closing the Ndiaye and Oleksandriya cases and moving closer to fulfilling CAF’s licensing criteria, the club has taken a significant step towards confirming its place in next season’s Champions League after that three-year hiatus.