When the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup commences in 2025 it will surely be without Nigeria’s top club Enyimba International.
The People’s Elephants dominated the continent in the early 2000s and their performance in the last also earned them the opportunity to play in the maiden edition of the African Football League.
The World Soccer governing body will start its newly revamped Club World Cup in 2025 and no Nigeria club will be present.
Scheduled to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025 (which may also impact the date of CAN 2025 …), this edition promises to be a grandiose celebration of football, highlighting the diversity and talent of clubs on a global scale.
The new format will feature matches divided into eight groups of four, followed by a knockout stage, starting from the round of 16, to crown the world club champion.
Qualification for the 2025 Club World Cup is based on a precise system, designed to guarantee the participation of the best teams from each confederation, according to sporting criteria established on the performances of the last four seasons in the Champions League.
Each confederation has a defined number of places: UEFA (Europe) sends 12 clubs, while CONMEBOL (South America) has 6, and the AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), and CONCACAF (North, Central America and the Caribbean) each places 4 teams. OFC (Oceania) receives one spot, and the host nation USA automatically qualifies a team, bringing the total to 32 participants.
Al Ahly SC is officially qualified thanks to its two Champions League crowns in 2021 and 2023.
Wydad Athletic Club Casablanca also has its ticket in its pocket thanks to the continental title won in 2022.
The other 2 tickets will be played during this edition of the African LoC 2023/24, currently at the quarter-final stage :
Mamelodi Sundowns are very close to qualifying, given their considerable points lead.
Esperance Sportive de Tunis are well positioned to secure their place, provided the ongoing African Champions League is not won by any team other than the top three mentioned.
Behind these leaders, TP Mazembe, ASEC Mimosas, Petro Atletico, and the Tanzanians Simba and Young Africans, all involved in the quarter-finals of the LdC 2023/24, are starting too far away to hope to qualify via the ranking and will only be able to compete for a place if they win the title on May 25.
