On Thursday, July 12, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the start date for the new eight-team African Football League during the Confederation of African Football (CAF) General Assembly in Abidjan.
The tournament, which has been reduced from the original concept of 24 teams, will start on October 20. Infantino emphasised the necessity of investing in African club football and the need for all parties to contribute to its success.
“It will have eight great teams, which will be followed in the future with a bigger version. We have to invest in African club football as well as national team football. It is our responsibility, duty, and task, and with the work and contribution of all of us as a team, we will succeed,” said Infantino.
While CAF has not officially confirmed the participating teams, it is understood that the eight teams will include Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, Petro Atletico from Angola, TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Al Ahly from Egypt, Horoya from Guinea, Wydad Casablanca from Morocco, Simba from Tanzania, and Esperance from Tunisia.
The African Football League will operate alongside and not in replacing CAF’s Champions League. However, specifics on broadcasters, sponsors, and logistics have yet to be revealed.
“We have recognised for many years that African football players have been among the best in the world, but we have to improve the appeal of African football, its commercial viability and its capacity to sustain itself,” CAF President Patrice Motsepe told delegates.
