FILE PHOTO: Fifa president Gianni Infantino (right) was alongside Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe at the launch of the Africa Super League in Tanzania. PICTURE: Backpage Pix
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0 JOHANNESBURG: According to CAF president Patrice Motsepe, the AFL would begin with the eight teams and then more clubs will be added in due course.
The inaugural African Football League (AFL), which was conceptualised as the African Super League, is set to take place in October 2023.
Featuring eight of the biggest clubs in Africa, the league will run for a month. The draw for the group stages of the tournament would take place next month. Thereafter, the group stages will kick off on 20 October 2023 and the final will be on 11 November of the same year.
According to CAF president Patrice Motsepe, the AFL would begin with eight teams and then more clubs will be added in due course. The eight teams who will be participating in the inaugural tournament are:
• Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
• Al Ahly SC (Egypt)
• Simba SC (Tanzania)
• TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco),
• Enyimba (Nigeria)
• Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
• Atletico Petroleos de Luanda (Angola).
According to the South African Football Association (SAFA), a CAF delegation was in South Africa on an inspection visit to assess the state of readiness of South African participants and DSTV Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns this week.
CAF has the full blessing and backing of FIFA when it comes to the AFL. Interestingly, when the idea of the European Super League was put forward by the biggest clubs in the world, such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus, it was FIFA and UEFA who were firmly against such an exclusive league.
The idea in Europe was met with criticism and condemnation by football fans, the media and clubs as it was seen as marginalising small clubs.
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