New African Football League to start in October

Thursday, 13 July 2023 17:26

By Reuters

FIFA president Gianni Infantino Photo: ISSOUF SANOGO/ AFP

The kick-off of the new eight-team African Football League has been confirmed for Octcober 20 by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who made the announcement at the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) General Assembly in Abidjan on Thursday.

The competition has been drastically scaled down from the original proposal of 24 teams as CAF announced a $15.7 million loss for the 2022-23 financial year.

Not much more is known of the competition a little over three months before it is set to kick off, with CAF yet to formally confirm the participating teams.

It's understood the eight are set to be South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who are owned by the family of CAF president Patrice Motsepe, Petro Atletico from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe, Al Ahly from Egypt, Horoya from Guinea, Wydad Casablanca from Morocco, Tanzania’s Simba and Esperance of Tunisia.

The competition will run concurrently with CAF's Champions League for domestic league winners across the continent and is not a replacement.

Details around broadcasters, sponsors and logistics also remain under wraps for now.

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