Cash-strapped Egyptians Zamalek eye record CAF Cup prize money

Zamalek defeated another Algerian side Chabab Belouizdad in the semifinals [Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters]

Financially embattled Egyptian club Zamalek will pocket a record $4m CAF Confederation Cup prize if they beat Algerian outfit USM Alger in the two-leg final.

USM host the first match on Saturday in front of a 50,000 crowd and the return game is set for Cairo on May 16 in a showdown between former winners of the competition.

Zamalek lifted the trophy, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League, in 2019 and 2024. USM won in 2023.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently announced 100 percent increases in the prizes for the winners and runners-up to $4m and $2m, respectively.

The decision was a timely boost for Zamalek, the second most successful club in CAF competitions with 13 titles, but battling with reported debts of $6.5m.

Egyptian media say the team, popularly known as the White Knights, owe clubs in Africa and Europe for players they brought to Cairo.

Ukrainian club Oleksandriya say they sold Brazilian striker Juan Bezerra to Zamalek, but some transfer fee instalments are overdue.

Former coaches, including Swiss Christian Gross and Portuguese Jose Gomes, are also owed money. They and some players have turned to the world body FIFA for help.

Ex-Tottenham boss Gross guided Zamalek to victory in the 2019 Confederation Cup final against Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane. Gomes repeated the feat five years later, also against Berkane.

Should slight favourites Zamalek win the Confederation Cup a record-equalling third time, they would qualify for the CAF Super Cup, which offers a prize of $500,000.

The Super Cup is an annual match between the winners of the CAF Champions League – Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa or FAR Rabat of Morocco this season – and the Confederation Cup.

USM and Zamalek reaching the final confirms the dominance of North African clubs in the second-tier African competition, with 17 victories in 22 finals.

North Africa dominant region

Tunisian club CS Sfaxien and Berkane share the record with three titles each. Etoile Sahel of , Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Zamalek are among four two-time winners.