Hany Abou Rida, President of the Egyptian Football Association, called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday to expand its premier club competitions. He formally proposed granting each CAF member national association an additional seat in both the African Champions League and the African Confederation Cup. This initiative aims to increase representation for national associations across Africa in the continental tournaments. The proposal seeks to modify the current structure by allowing more clubs to participate from various member nations, thereby broadening the scope of African club football.
Details of the Proposal
The additional seats proposed by the Egyptian Football Association would be allocated based on classification criteria and regulations approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). According to the proposal, some federations could see their quotas increase to three clubs in the African Champions League and three clubs in the African Confederation Cup, depending on their continental ranking. This potential increase in representation shows the proposal's aim to reward strong performing federations with more opportunities for their clubs. These additional participating clubs would join the competitions starting from their preliminary rounds, ensuring a phased entry into the continental stage. The proposal suggests granting each CAF member national association an additional seat in the African Champions League and the African Confederation Cup, with these additional seats being distributed according to classification criteria and regulations approved by the continental football body. Based on continental ranking, some federations' quotas could rise to three clubs in the African Champions League and three clubs in the African Confederation Cup, with the participation of additional clubs commencing from the preliminary rounds of both competitions.
Currently, the top 12 ranked countries on the continent are allowed to enter two teams in the Champions League and two teams in the Confederation Cup. All other countries participate with one team in each competition. This existing structure limits the number of clubs from many nations, and the proposed changes aim to address this by offering more slots. The current system means that only a select group of nations benefit from increased representation, while the majority are restricted to a single entry per competition.
Context and Rationale
The initiative aims to broaden participation in continental competitions, reflecting the ongoing development of African football and offering more clubs opportunities for continental exposure. These expanded opportunities would allow federations to increase their representation, providing more clubs with the chance to compete at a higher level and gain valuable experience. For example, Algeria is set to be represented by MC Alger and JS Saoura in the 2026-2027 African Champions League, showcasing the potential for strong national representation. In the Confederation Cup, Algeria will also have two clubs participating: USM Alger, the current title holder, and CR Belouizdad, demonstrating the depth of talent in some national leagues. The proposal seeks to provide such increased representation across the continent, allowing more teams to compete at an international level within Africa and fostering greater competition and development. The current limit of two teams for most top-ranked nations, and one for others, is seen as a barrier to broader engagement and the full realization of African football's potential.
CAF's Stance and Next Steps
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not yet issued an official position regarding the Egyptian Football Association's proposal for expanding its club competitions. A timeline for the review of the request by CAF's competent bodies also remains undisclosed. CAF has not yet issued an official position on the request or a timeline for its review by its competent bodies, indicating that the proposal is still in its early stages of consideration. The proposal, put forth by Egyptian FA President Hany Abou Rida, seeks to grant each CAF member national association an additional seat in both the African Champions League and the African Confederation Cup. This expansion would potentially allow certain federations, based on classification criteria and continental ranking, to enter three clubs in each competition. Currently, only the top 12 ranked countries can enter two teams, while others are limited to one. CAF's response will determine the future structure of these continental tournaments and could significantly reshape the landscape of African club football for years to come.