Shelved for two years and the coronation of Raja Casablanca in the summer of 2021, the Arab Cup of champion clubs will make a comeback in 2023.
The final phase will bring together 16 teams from July 20 to August 5, 2023 in Saudi Arabia and several African teams have already received their invitation for this meeting: the Moroccans from Wydad Casablanca, winner of the last African Champions Leagueand their rivals from Raja Casablanca, defending champions, the Tunisians from Espérance Tunis, the Algerians from CR Bélouizdad and the Egyptians from Zamalek.
Several teams from the continent can hope to join them if they manage to pass the two preliminary rounds: the Moroccans of FAR Rabat, the Algerians of JS Saoura, the Tunisians of US Monastir and CS Sfaxien, the Egyptians of Tala’ea El Gaish, the Mauritanians of FC Nouadhibou, the Sudanese of Al Hilal and Al Merrikh and the Libyans of Al Ahli Tripoli and Al Ittihad Tripoli.
An XXL bonus for the winner
This competition is very lucrative financially since a bonus of 6 million dollars is promised to the winner, plus 2.5 million euros for the finalist, 200,000 euros for the semi-finalists, 150,000 euros for the quarter-finalists, €100,000 for teams eliminated in the group stage and €20,000 for teams eliminated in qualification.
For comparison, the winner of the African Champions League must be satisfied with 2.5 million dollars at the end of a much longer and winding course. This difference in terms of prize money makes the Arab Club Cup much more attractive for clubs that have the opportunity to participate. But everything could change from August 2023 with the launch of the African Super League and its announced prize money of 100 million dollars, including 11-12 million dollars for the future winner!
#عاجل |
اللجنة المنظمة في الاتحاد العربي لكرة القدم تعلن أسماء 100#كأس_الملك_سلمان_للاندية .
👇 pic.twitter.com/CYde3HIXG8— الاتحاد العربي لكرة القدم (@UAFAAC) March 5, 2023
Faced with the Saudi giants Al-Hilal, recent executioner of the WAC in Club World Cup, and Al-Nassr, the club of Cristiano Ronaldo, who will play in the Zamalek group, the task will not be easy for the African representatives. The WAC will also find Al Hilal in its group. Note that the Algerians of CR Bélouizdad and the Moroccans of Raja Casablanca will play in the same pool, waiting to be joined by their compatriots from JS Saoura and FAR Rabat!
The composition of the groups of the Arab Cup of champion clubs:
Group A: Hope of Tunis (Tunisia), Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), Qualified 3, Al Shorta (Iraq)
Group B: Al Sadd (Qatar), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Qualified 4, Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Group C: Zamalek (Egypt), Qualified 5, Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia), Qualified 2
Group D: CR Belouizdad (Algeria), Raja Casablanca (Morocco), Qualified 6, Qualified 1
The posters of the preliminary rounds
Qualified 1: FAR Rabat (Morocco)-Al Ittihad Tripoli (Libya) VS Al Borj (Lebanon)-Al Wehda (United Arab Emirates)
Qualified 2: Al Merreikh (Sudan)-Techrine (Syria) VS Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia)-Al Quwa Al Jawiya (Iraq)
Qualified 3: Al Hilal (Sudan)-Al Manama (Bahrain) VS Sfaxien Sports Club (Tunisia)-Qatar SC (Qatar)
Qualified 4: Tala’ea El Geish (Egypt)-Ahli Tripoli (Libya) VS Al Nahda (Oman)-Shabab Al Khalil (Palestine)
Qualified 5: Fahmane (Yemen)-Union Sportive Monastirienne (Tunisia) VS Al Muharaq (Bahrain)-Al Seeb (Oman)
Qualified 6: FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania)-Shabab Al Ordon (Jordan) VS Al Kuwait (Kuwait)-JS Saoura (Algeria)
