The African Super League for African clubs will kick off in August 2023, President of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe announced this on Sunday.
He said it was the decision of CAF Executive Committee.
Motsepe who said the league would be launched in Tanzania this August also said other details of the competition, including the official name, would be unveiled at the launch event.
“The competition will breathe new life into African club competition,” he said in Rabat following CAF’s Executive Committee meeting.
Winners and participants of the inaugural African Super League will receive significant prize monies.
Also, proceeds from the tournament will include substantial solidarity payments to all 54 CAF Member-Associations.
At last year’s CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Egypt, the 54 Member-Associations had unanimously voted to go ahead with the competition.
The meeting gave a mandate to the CAF President and the Executive Committee to lead the implementation of the competition.
“The decision has now been taken to implement the CAF Super League.
“It will start in August 2023 and we will launch it during CAF’s 44th Ordinary Assembly in Tanzania on Aug. 10,” Motsepe said.
He said further that CAF had been inundated with enquiries by investors and sponsors.
”They are anxious to partner with us on the CAF Super League. It has huge potential to significantly uplift African football and to make it even more powerful.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended Sunday’s CAF Executive Committee meeting, with Motsepe thanking him for his support in the establishment of the African Super League.
“We will be engaging with stakeholders over the next few weeks to discuss the mechanics of the tournament and will release further details shortly.
“A significant amount of the money from the CAF Super League will be invested back into African football and part of the process involves giving one million dollars every year to every one of CAF’s 54 Member-Associations as a contribution to football and youth development.
“We also want to look to increase the prize money for the men’s and women’s CAF Champions Leagues,” said Motsepe.
Other decisions:
The CAF Champions League final will now be played over two legs.
The confederation also decided that the 2022 CAF Super Cup match will hold in Morocco.
This is because the two clubs who are current title-holders of the Champions League (Wydad AC) and Confederation Cup (RS Berkane) are from Morocco.
CAF has also awarded Egypt the rights to host the 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
It received two bids from Egypt and Morocco for the competition’s hosting rights.
The Executive Committee also confirmed that the 2022 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) will hold from Jan. 13 to Feb. 4 of 2023 in Algeria.
This was after reviewing the report of the inspection delegation team led by Vice President Seido Mbombo Njoya and Executive Member Moses Magogo on Algeria’s state of readiness.
CAF also, after twice opening the bidding process of the Women’s Champions League 2022, has picked the Royal Morocco Football Federation which submitted the only bid to host the competition.
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