The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has abolished the “cup-tied” rule for the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. This means that clubs can now register a player who has participated in either competition for another club within the same season.
Previously, when a player switched from one club to another and had already participated for their ex-club in either the Confederation Cup or the Champions League, they would not be eligible to be registered to play in the competitions for the new club until the following season.
However, in a bid to align their regulations to global standards, CAF has changed the rule.
“The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”), today changed the player registration Regulations of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, to allow football clubs to register a player, for the CAF Champions League or the CAF Confederation Cup, who has participated in either of these CAF Competitions, for another football club, within the same football season.
“By changing these Player Registration Regulations, the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup Regulations are now similar to the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League Player Registration Regulations,” a CAF statement read.
African Clubs to sign quality players ahead of World Cup
The Continental Football governing body said the amended regulations will contribute to the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup becoming attractive and appealing to football fans, TV spectators, and sponsors and partners in Africa and worldwide.
CAF said the changes are also aimed at improving the quality of African teams that will be playing at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States of America
“These changes may also improve the quality of the African football clubs that are participating in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 that will be held in the United States in June–July 2025,” the statement concluded.
FIFA has expanded the club World Cup to a 32–team event. Africa will have four representatives: Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and now Esperance (Tunisia).
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