EFA submits proposal to CAF for expanded club representation in interclub competitions

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has formally requested that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) increase the number of clubs allowed to participate in both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, with EFA president Hany Abo Rida confirming the submission on Thursday.

The proposal comes on the back of what has been a landmark period for African football following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Egypt reached the Round of 16 for the first time in the nation’s history before suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat to defending champions Argentina.

In an official statement, the EFA argued that the improved performances of African national teams on the global stage warrant greater representation in CAF’s flagship interclub competitions.

According to the proposal, every CAF member association would receive an additional place in both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup, with allocations determined by the confederation’s existing club ranking system.

If approved, Africa’s highest-ranked football associations would see their quota increase from two to three clubs in each competition. The additional teams would begin their campaigns in the preliminary rounds, providing more clubs with the opportunity to compete at continental level.

At present, CAF grants the continent’s top 12 ranked leagues—including Egypt—two places each in the Champions League and the Confederation Cup. The EFA’s proposal would raise that number to three clubs per tournament, giving the leading associations a total of six representatives across CAF’s two premier club competitions.

The suggested expansion could have significant implications for Egyptian football ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Zamalek and Pyramids FC finished as the top two clubs in the Egyptian Premier League, securing the country’s two automatic places in next season’s CAF Champions League.

In one of the biggest surprises of the domestic campaign, continental giants and record CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly missed out on a Champions League berth and are currently set to compete in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they could face either ZED FC or Ceramica Cleopatra.

However, should CAF approve the EFA’s proposal, Al Ahly could be elevated into the Champions League as Egypt’s third representative, dramatically altering the country’s continental lineup for the upcoming season.

The proposed changes are expected to be considered by CAF in the coming months as preparations continue for the 2026/27 interclub campaign.

The next editions of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup are scheduled to begin with preliminary-round fixtures in September 2026. The group stages will run from late November 2026 through January 2027, while the finals of both competitions are slated for May 2027.