Egypt Basketball Association don stop professional players from playing for the Associated League to give Egyptian players more chance, according to Mohamed Fathy, the association vice-president and competitions supervisor.
"Dem change the competition system by canceling professional player participation, to give the Egyptian player bigger chance to show, which go help the national teams," Fathy tell FilGoal. The tournament go now play on home-and-away basis across four groups.
The Associated League go start on Friday, 18 September 2026, with the first legs of the preliminary round. Each tie involve both the senior men team and the associated under-16 side, with 16 clubs dey participate. The competition go decide the first-round match-ups for the Super League, which qualify for the African League, with teams position for the Associated League dem go use to arrange the pairings.
The 16 clubs na Al Ahly, Al Ittihad Alexandria, Telecom Egypt, Zamalek, Petrojet, Sporting, Smouha, Al Gezira, El Qanah, Tala'ea El Gaish, Heliopolis, El Olympi, Ashab El Gehad, El Said, El Zohour and Damanhour Games, dem divide into four groups of four. For the preliminary phase, team go earn two points if e win both im men and under-16 associated matches, while the team wey lose go get one point.
The winner of each group go enter quarter-finals direct, with the second and third place teams go contest home-and-away play-offs. Fathy explain say the second-placed team for Group One go meet the third-placed team for Group Three, with the winner go advance. Points difference, followed by basket difference, go separate teams wey tie, while the final go replay if the teams dey level on points.
