Juan Bezerra included in Zamalek’s CAF Champions League squad

Juan Bezerra has been named in Zamalek’s initial squad for the CAF Champions League, despite having stopped training with the Egyptian club at the end of last season because he wanted to leave.

Zamalek began their campaign with a 2-1 win over AS Port Djibouti in the first leg of the preliminary round. Mohamed Shehata and Chico Banza scored for the Egyptian side, while Mehdi Hussein replied for their opponents.

Bezerra’s inclusion comes after his prolonged absence from Zamalek’s training sessions. The Brazilian had been seeking a departure from the club, but remains eligible to feature in their African campaign.

Tunisian forward Ahmed El Gafali and Saif Farouk Gaafar were not included in the initial list. Zamalek are expected to register El Gafali before 30 September, which would allow him to play from the next round.

Gaafar, meanwhile, is no longer part of the team’s technical plans and is currently training separately from the main squad.

FilGoal.com reports that Zamalek’s initial CAF Champions League squad is:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Awad, Mohamed Sobhi, Mehdi Soliman, Omar Abdel Aziz.

Defenders: Ahmed Fattouh, Mahmoud Bentayg, Ahmed Khodary, Mahmoud Hamdy “El Wensh”, Mohamed Ismail, Ahmed Hossam, Mostafa El Zanary, El Sayed Osama, Omar Gaber, Mohamed Ibrahim, Mohamed Farag.

Midfielders: Mohamed Shehata, Mahmoud Gihad, Ahmed Rabie Mohamed El Sayed, Ahmed Abdel Rahim “Isho”, Youssef Khalifa “Frenchy”, Ahmed Safwat, Adam Kaied, Abdallah El Said, Mohamed Hamdy, Chico Banza, Juan Bezerra.

Forwards: Ahmed Sherif, Adel Dabagh, Nasser Mansi, Hossam Ashraf, Amr Nasser, Adham Haseeb.

The registration dates for African club competitions have also been set out.

The first registration window runs from 1 August 2026 to 15 August 2026. A second window will be open from 16 August to 30 September 2026, with players registered during that period allowed to take part from the second preliminary round, also known as the round of 32.

Registration for the group stage will run from 1 October to 31 October 2026. Players added during that period will be eligible to play from the group stage onwards.

A further registration period will be held from 1 January to 31 January 2027. Players registered then can feature in the remaining group-stage matches and the knockout rounds.

Zamalek’s victory over AS Port was their first CAF Champions League match since their final fixture against Sudanese side Al-Merrikh in the 2023 edition.

The winner of Zamalek’s tie with AS Port will meet the winner of the match between Congolese club Eagles and Rwanda’s APR FC in the round of 32.