CAF Warns Clubs: Secure Licenses By June 30 Or Miss Out On Interclub Competitions

CAF Warns Clubs: Secure Licenses By June 30 Or Miss Out On Interclub Competitions

By Niyi Busari 

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has informed its Member Associations that clubs intending to participate in the 2025/26 CAF interclub competitions must obtain their club licenses no later than June 30, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The directive applies to teams seeking qualification for Africa's premier club tournaments, the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, as CAF continues efforts to strengthen professionalism, governance and competitiveness across the continent.

Under CAF's Club Licensing Regulations, participating clubs are required to satisfy five key criteria before they can be granted a license. These include sporting, infrastructure, administrative and personnel, legal, and financial requirements.

The sporting criteria focus on youth development structures, qualified technical staff and player welfare programmes. Infrastructure requirements cover access to approved stadiums, training facilities and matchday operations that meet CAF standards.

Clubs must also demonstrate sound administrative structures, including qualified personnel in key management positions, while legal requirements involve proper club registration, ownership documentation and compliance with national and continental football regulations.

Financial compliance remains one of the most critical areas, with clubs expected to provide audited financial statements and prove they have no overdue payables to players, employees, other clubs or football authorities.

In a further move aimed at improving coaching standards across African football, CAF has reiterated that all head coaches and assistant coaches participating in its interclub competitions must possess either a CAF A Licence or CAF Pro Licence issued by a recognized football association.

The requirement reflects CAF's commitment to raising technical standards and ensuring clubs competing at continental level are managed by appropriately qualified coaching personnel.

The June 30 deadline places added pressure on clubs across Africa, particularly those that have secured or are on course to secure continental qualification through their domestic leagues and cup competitions. Failure to obtain the necessary license within the stipulated timeframe could result in a club being denied entry into CAF competitions, regardless of its sporting achievements on the field.

For clubs in countries such as Nigeria, where representatives are expected to emerge from the Nigeria Premier Football League and domestic cup competitions, the licensing process will be a crucial step before continental participation can be confirmed.

CAF's club licensing system has become an increasingly important component of African football governance, helping to improve financial discipline, infrastructure standards, youth development and administrative professionalism among clubs competing on the continental stage.