The delayed Africa Super League is now set to kick off in October. CAF’s new premier competition has been scaled down to an 8-team tournament with the group stage now set to start on 20 October.
Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president and a big fan of the Africa Super League announced in July that the competition would still go ahead this year. South African Football Association, SAFA, has now confirmed that DSTV Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns will be part of the elite league.
“A delegation from CAF visited South Africa this week to conduct a venue inspection and also ascertain the state of readiness ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns’ home matches,” said the report published on safa.net.
The former CAF Champions League winners will be joined by Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Simba SC, Atletico de Luanda, Enyimba, and Esperance de Tunis in the inaugural edition. Infantino and CAF president Patrice Motsepe hope the Africa Super League will be the most valuable football league ever for the continent.
The draw for the tournament is expected in early September while the final is earmarked for 11 November 2023.