Africa League’s grand debut to showcase football powerhouses
By Lucky Oluoch, August 30, 2023
Africa’s football landscape is set to witness a new chapter as the inaugural African Football League (AFL) prepares to unfold.
In collaboration with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, the AFL is geared towards showcasing the continent’s premier club football talent while treating fans to a feast of football excellence.
According to a statement from the league’s organizers, the AFL’s inaugural edition is slated to feature eight of Africa’s most renowned and successful football clubs, selected from three distinct regional blocks: North, Central-West, and South-East.
Representing the North Region are football powerhouses including Egyptian giants Al Ahly Football Club (pictured), Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis, and Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Enyimba Football Club and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Tout Puissant Mazembe are set to display their prowess from the Central-West Region.
Finally, the South-East Region will be aptly represented by Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club from South Africa, Angola’s Atlético Petróleos de Luanda, and Tanzania’s Simba Sports Club.
The AFL will follow a riveting home-and-away structure. The competition commences with quarter-finals, transitioning to gripping semi-finals, and ultimately culminating in a high-stakes final – all matches played over two legs.
The draw will be held in Cairo, Egypt, on September 2, at 7 pm (Cairo time), and will be streamed live on the AFL website and televised by CAF’s broadcast partners.
The inaugural AFL edition is scheduled to span four thrilling weeks, commencing with the grand Opening Ceremony and the first match on October 20, 2023, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The semi-finals are set to grace the stage between October 29 and November 1.
The climactic final matches, which will determine the victor of the inaugural AFL, are slated for November 5 and 11 this year.