African giants Ahly competing in second-tier CAF Cup this season
Egyptian football club Al Ahly will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup this season after a third-place finish in their domestic league. The team has appointed Moroccan coach Houcine Ammouta to lead their campaign in the second-tier African competition.
Why it matters
Al Ahly is a historic powerhouse in African football, and their absence from the Champions League marks a significant shift in the continental competitive landscape.
Record African club competition winners Al Ahly of Egypt will begin their bid to win the CAF Confederation Cup a second time against Mogadishu City of Somalia or Kitara of Uganda.
Having won 25 CAF titles, the Cairo club received a bye into the second qualifying round in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League when the draws were made in Cairo on Thursday.
Ahly are competing in the second-tier competition because they finished only third in the Egyptian Premier League behind Zamalek and Pyramids.
CAF permits only two entrants to the Champions League from the top 12 ranked countries so Ahly miss out on the marquee competition for the first time since 2003.
A disappointing domestic season, in which they also failed to win the FA Cup or League Cup, led to the departure of Danish coach Jess Thorup.
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