African Super League: A $100 million competition

African clubs have welcomed the decision of Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe to launch the African Super League from August 2023 with a total prize pool of $100 million.

On Wednesday August 10, 2022, the new African competition, the “African Super League”, was launched in Arusha, Tanzania, in the presence of the 52 member associations of CAF, leaders of football clubs, legends and the president of the FIFA, Gianni Infantino. After the launch, Barbara Jaime Gonzalez, General Manager of Simba Sports Club, was very pleased with the ongoing development on the African continent. “Football is a business affair and every time there is more money, it is very positive. As a club, we are very happy that the African Super League has been launched and we can’t wait for it to start next year. The existence of this new tournament will definitely open up more opportunities for clubs to earn money and for players to enjoy it,” she told CAF Media.

Jessica Motaung, Marketing Director of Kaizer Chiefs, South African Premier League club, welcomed the arrival of the African Super League. “It’s a great idea to have another tournament where teams can play and also earn money. But let’s wait for more details on the tournament. Siaka Chico Tiene, legend and former Ivory Coast international, added that « it’s a great idea that will allow the best teams to compete and win money ».

CAF had revealed that the competition will take place according to the geographical distribution system and the participation of 24 top-ranked clubs in the criteria of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This will be based on the results of the last five years in CAF interclub competitions and the participating clubs will be divided into 3 groups according to geographical regions. The first group will be for North African clubs and includes eight clubs who play among themselves in a two-round league system, with a total of 14 matches. Ditto for the West and Central Africa group, and finally the East and Southern Africa region.

The top five teams in each league qualify for the round of 16, with a total of 15 clubs, in addition to the best sixth team from the three groups. The seventh-placed clubs in the three groups and the two sixth-placed teams will play a playoff in a one-round league to remain in the African Super League for the following season, while the top teams in the other competition called the the CAF Confederation will move on to the next edition of the African Super League.

It was agreed that the clubs in eighth and last place in each league in each group would be relegated to the CAF Confederation Cup the following year. After the teams for the prize pool have been determined, matches will be played on a two-legged two-legged knockout system, where clashes will be held on a draw system so that no opposing team from the same geographic area does not meet. Then the quarter-final matches and then the semi-finals will also be played at home and away. In the official presentation of the competition, it has already been revealed that the final system of the tournament, in which a match between the finalists will be played, will be such an important event.