Egypt confirm Zamalek and Pyramids for Champions League as Al Ahly drop into Confederation Cup

The Egyptian Football Association has confirmed that Zamalek and Pyramids will represent Egypt in the CAF Champions League in the 2026-27 season, with Al Ahly and ZED FC entering the CAF Confederation Cup.

Zamalek’s participation was only rubber-stamped after the club secured the necessary licence for continental competition by resolving all outstanding cases against it at FIFA. The federation confirmed that all issues had been settled, allowing the former African champions to return to the Champions League.

Pyramids will join them in Africa’s elite club competition for a fourth consecutive campaign. The club, which has rapidly established itself among the continent’s regulars, lifted the CAF Champions League trophy once, in the season before last.

Al Ahly in Confederation Cup after league finish

Al Ahly have been registered for the CAF Confederation Cup after finishing third in the Egyptian Premier League last season, missing out on a Champions League place.

This will be Al Ahly’s first appearance in Africa’s second-tier club tournament since the 2014-15 season. The Cairo giants have won the Confederation Cup once in their history, claiming the title in the 2013-14 campaign.

ZED FC, meanwhile, will make their debut in continental competition. The rising club earned their spot in the Confederation Cup by reaching the Egypt Cup final last season, where they finished as runners-up to Pyramids.

CAF 2026-27 schedule confirmed

The Egyptian Football Association also relayed the key dates for the 2026-27 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, covering all stages from the preliminary rounds to the final.

Preliminary round

First preliminary round: – First legs: 4-6 September – Second legs: 11-13 September

Second preliminary round: – First legs: 16-18 October – Second legs: 23-25 October

Group stage

The group phase for both the Champions League and Confederation Cup will be played over six matchdays:

– Matchday 1: 27-29 November – Matchday 2: 4-6 December – Matchday 3: 18-20 December – Matchday 4: 8-10 January – Matchday 5: 15-17 January – Matchday 6: 22-24 January

Knockout rounds

Quarter-finals: – First legs: 26-28 February – Second legs: 5-7 March

Semi-finals: – First legs: 9-11 April – Second legs: 16-18 April

Final

The finals of both CAF competitions are scheduled to take place between 9 and 31 May. The exact dates within that window will be confirmed in March.

The confirmations mean Egypt will again have four clubs involved on the continental stage, with two in each competition, as Zamalek, Pyramids, Al Ahly and ZED FC prepare their squads for a demanding 2026-27 African campaign.