Abidjan, Ivory Coast – The Africa Super League is set to kick off on October 20, 2023, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced at the ongoing CAF General Assembly in Abidjan.
The competition, which was originally scheduled to start in August 2022, was delayed due to financial concerns. However, CAF has since secured funding from a number of sponsors, and the league is now on track to start in October.
The inaugural season of the Africa Super League will feature eight teams, including Al Ahly (Egypt), Esperance Tunis (Tunisia), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Horoya (Guinea), Petro Atletico (Angola), and Simba (Tanzania).
The teams will be divided into two groups of four, and each team will play each other once in the group stage. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, and the winners of the semifinals will meet in the final.
The Africa Super League is expected to generate significant revenue for CAF, and it is hoped that the competition will help to raise the profile of African football around the world.
The Africa Super League is a historic moment for African football,” Infantino said. “This is a competition that will showcase the best clubs in Africa, and it will help to grow the game on the continent.”
The Africa Super League has been met with mixed reactions from fans and pundits. Some have welcomed the competition, arguing that it will provide a much-needed boost for African football. Others have criticized the league, arguing that it will only benefit the richest clubs and will do little to help the development of the game in Africa.
Only time will tell whether the Africa Super League will be a success. However, there is no doubt that the competition will be one of the most eagerly anticipated events in African football history.
