Dates for the long-awaited Africa Super League, now to be known as the Africa Football League, have finally been set. The Confederation of African Football announced the news, with changes set for the 2024/5 season.
In a statement, CAF confirmed that the 2023 Africa Football League tournament will run from October 20 to 11 November. The draw will take place in Cairo on the 2nd of September.
“Africa’s highest ranked football clubs will compete in the exciting new ‘Super’ competition, the Inaugural African Football League (AFL) which is designed to showcase the best of African club football and provide football fans in Africa and around the world, the opportunity to see and enjoy the very best of the beautiful game on the African Continent,” read the statement from CAF.
Enyimba FC, which has already been eliminated from the current edition of the CAF Champions League, will represent West Africa. Al Ahly SC, Esperance de Tunis, and Wydad Casablanca make the trio from the dominant North Africa. Fallen continental giants from the DR Congo, TP Mazembe will stand for Central Africa while Simba SC will stand for East Africa. Emerging giants Southern Africa will have rich boys Petro de Luanda and Mamelodi Sundowns. The statement from CAF touts these clubs as Africa’s most famous and successful.
“The AFL is a partnership between CAF and FIFA. The inaugural edition of the AFL will feature 8 of Africa’s most famous and successful teams from the 3 African Regional Blocks which are: the North Region, the Central West Region, and the South-East Region,” said the released statement.
According to CAF, the Africa Football League will feature the 24 highest-ranked clubs on the continent for the 2024/5 season.