FIFA president Gianni Infantino has announced that the new eight-team African Football League will officially begin on October 20th, at the Confederation of Africa Football’s(CAF) General Assembly in Abidjan(city of West Africa) on Thursday.
During the General Assembly, FIFA announced that the tournament, previously called the CAF African Super League, will now have a different name.
FIFA’s President said “It will have eight great teams, which will be followed in the future with a bigger version, 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.” as per ESPN report.
The initial tournament will have only eight teams from the African continent, instead of the originally proposed 24 teams by CAF.
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. When initially proposed, CAF promised $100 million in prize money with $11.5m for the winner.
This Eight Teams will be from following clubs:
PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE (1. LEAGUE)
AmaZulu Durban
Cape Town City
Chippa United Port Elizabeth
Kaizer Chiefs Soweto
Lamontville Golden Arrows
Mamelodi Sundowns
Maritzburg United
Marumo Gallants Thohoyandou
Moroka Swallows Soweto
Orlando Pirates
Richards Bay FC
Royal AM Pietermaritzburg
Sekhukhune United
Stellenbosch FC
SuperSport United Pretoria
TS Galaxy Kameelrivier
NATIONAL FIRST DIVISION (2. LEAGUE)
Baroka FC Polokwane
Black Leopards Polokwane
Cape Town All Stars
Cape Town Spurs
Casric Stars KwaMhlanga
Hungry Lions Postmasburg
JDR Stars Pretoria
Magesi Polokwane
MM Platinum Westbury
Platinum City Rovers
Polokwane City
Pretoria Callies
Pretoria University FC
Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC
Uthongathi FC
Venda Football Academy
“We have recognised for many years that African football players have been among the best in the world, but we need to enhance the attractiveness of African football, its commercial viability and its capacity to sustain itself,,” Patrice Motsepe President of the CAF told delegates.
He urged the presidents of football associations and governments throughout the continent to increase their investments in the sport.
“We have great confidence in the progress we are making and with the talent we have in Africa, it will result in an African nation winning the World Cup [one day], but we have to spend money on coaching the coaches, opening academies, and ensuring professional clubs have sufficient resources, he said.”
