Why CAF Rejected Proposal To Increase CAF Champions League Slots For 2026/27

Why CAF Rejected Proposal To Increase CAF Champions League Slots For 2026/27

Sampson Adedeji

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rejected a proposal by the Egyptian Football Association to increase the number of CAF Champions League slots allocated to the continent's top-ranked member associations for the 2026/27 season, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Egyptian FA had proposed that the top 12 ranked member associations each receive three CAF Champions League places instead of the current allocation.

CAF confirmed that it received and acknowledged the proposal, but the Confederation's Competitions Department ruled that the changes could not be implemented ahead of the upcoming season.

According to CAF, the proposal was rejected due to time constraints, as well as the fact that the regulations governing both CAF interclub competitions cannot be amended at this stage of the competition cycle.

The governing body also noted that all member associations had already been informed of their participation quotas for the 2026/27 season last month.

Despite the decision, CAF's Competitions Department is understood to be open to the proposal in principle and has indicated that it could be considered for implementation from the 2027/28 season.

The proposal reportedly enjoys the support of some members of the CAF Executive Committee from North Africa, while several representatives from Central and West Africa are yet to be fully briefed on the matter.

With the decision now made, the issue is regarded as closed for the 2026/27 CAF interclub season, with any further discussions expected to focus on possible changes from the 2027/28 campaign onward.