FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the new African Football League, featuring eight teams, will kick off on October 20. Infantino made the announcement during the Confederation of Africa Football’s General Assembly in Abidjan, expressing the importance of investing in both African club football and national team football.
While further details of the competition remain undisclosed, sources suggest that the eight participating 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 run concurrently with CAF’s Champions League, focusing on domestic league winners across the continent, and it is not intended as a replacement. Specifics regarding broadcasters, sponsors, and logistics are yet to be revealed. Initially, CAF promised a prize money pool of $100 million, with $11.5 million designated for the tournament’s winner.
One of the intended outcomes of the league was to establish a solidarity fund, granting $1 million per year to each of CAF’s 54 member associations for football development. However, it is unclear if this plan remains intact.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has emphasized the need to enhance African football’s global appeal, with the new league playing a crucial role in achieving this goal. Motsepe expressed confidence in Africa’s talent and its potential to produce a future World Cup-winning nation. He urged association presidents and governments across the continent to increase their investments in the game, focusing on coaching development, academy establishment, and providing adequate resources to professional clubs.