New African Football League Starts October

By: Gyang Dakwo

The kick-off of the new eight-team African Football League was confirmed for Oct. 20 by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who made the announcement at the Confederation of Africa Football’s (CAF) General Assembly in Abidjan on Thursday.

The competition has been drastically scaled down from the original proposal of 24 teams.

“It will have eight great teams, which will be followed in the future with a bigger version,” Infantino told delegates. “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.”

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.

Reports, however, suggest that 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.