Ahmed Suleiman says Al Ahly’s absence would boost Zamalek’s CAF Champions League hopes

Ahmed Suleiman has admitted he would rather not see rivals Al Ahly compete in next season’s CAF Champions League, saying their absence would improve Zamalek’s chances of lifting the continental title.

The Zamalek board member made the remarks as speculation continues over the possibility of Al Ahly being included in the competition after reports that the Egyptian Football Association had asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to increase the number of places allocated to Egyptian clubs.

Speaking in televised comments, Suleiman acknowledged Al Ahly’s quality while making it clear that, from a Zamalek perspective, he would prefer not to face the record African champions in the tournament.

His comments come at a time when uncertainty remains over the final list of Egyptian representatives for the next edition of Africa’s premier club competition.

Although discussions surrounding additional qualification places have generated debate, no official confirmation has been provided regarding any change to the allocation.

Ahmed Suleiman explains his position

Suleiman insisted that his opinion was driven by sporting ambition rather than anything else, explaining that every club naturally wants the clearest possible route to winning a major trophy.

He said: “Personally, I have a problem with Al-Ahly participating in the African Champions League, but as a Zamalek player, I have my eye on the title and I want to win it.”

The former player acknowledged the challenge posed by Al Ahly whenever they compete on the African stage.

He continued: “Al-Ahly is a big and heavy team and I don’t want them in the Champions League because I want to win the championship, and it is in my interest that Wydad Casablanca, for example, is not participating in the championship.”

His remarks underline the fierce rivalry between Egypt’s two biggest clubs, whose meetings have regularly shaped domestic and continental football over the years.

Rather than questioning Al Ahly’s status, Suleiman’s comments focused on the competitive advantage Zamalek could enjoy if one of Africa’s strongest teams were absent from the competition.

Debate continues over Champions League qualification

The discussion surrounding Al Ahly’s possible participation has intensified following reports that the Egyptian Football Association requested an increase in Egypt’s allocation of CAF Champions League places.

While that possibility remains under discussion, Suleiman argued that the competition should continue under the regulations with which it began.

He stated: “The competition started with a system, so let it end with the same system, and next year you can modify it, I have no objection, and as Zamalek, I want to win the title.”

His comments reflected a preference for maintaining consistency in tournament regulations throughout the current qualification cycle, even if changes are considered in the future.

The issue has become one of the main talking points in Egyptian football as clubs await clarity over the final qualification process.

Zamalek confident over licensing process

Suleiman also addressed questions surrounding Zamalek’s club licence, expressing confidence that the administrative process would be completed successfully.

At the same time, he stressed that regulations should apply equally to every club.

He added: “Regarding the license, there are still administrative procedures and we will obtain it. If we do not obtain the license, I have no objection to the next person entering so that the regulations are applied fairly.”

His remarks suggest that, while he remains optimistic about Zamalek’s position, he believes the governing rules should be respected regardless of the club involved.

For now, uncertainty remains over the final composition of next season’s CAF Champions League, but Suleiman has made his stance clear.

As a representative of Zamalek, his priority is winning the competition, and he believes that task becomes more achievable if one of the continent’s strongest clubs is not among the participants.