African Football League

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African Football League is new name that was launched originally as CAF Africa Super League. It has been pared down from a 24 team mini-league/knockout format to an 8 club knockout. Its prize money for the winner has shrunk from US$11.5m to $4m. The runner-up will get $2.8m. The two semi-finalists will each get $1.7m. All 8 clubs get 900k. Main sponsors are Visit Saudi & Visit Rwanda.

FIFA-CAF still intend the AFL to become larger next season to 22 teams. While the AFL is not a replacement for the 68 team CAF CL, it is a rival of sorts – currently equalling the prize money.

The eight teams have been selected from three different regions - north, central-west and south-east - with the highest ranked teams in each bloc: Al Ahly (EGY), Enyimba (NGA), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (TUN), Mamelodi Sundowns (SAF), Atlético Petróleos de Luanda (ANG), Simba (TAN), TP Mazembe (DRC), and Wydad (MAR). Until last week, Mamelodi Sundowns were even banned from taking part by South Africa's Fed, who cited fixture congestion.

There is no major money paying broadcast deal. So, most people in the world can watch it free on FIFA+, FIFA Youtube and the AFL's website: https://afl.africa/. However, only 43% of Africans have access to the internet and most are via expensive mobile data plans not friendly to a 2 hour video stream. It's also on DAZN Canada.

2 legged quarters kicked off today with Simba drawing Al Ahly 2-2. Tanzania's national stadium looked full. VIPs sighted included Infantino, Wegner & Pierluigi Colina. 

Quarters run from Oct 20 to 25. 2 leg semis run from Oct 29-Nov 1. 2 leg Final are on Nov 5 and 11. Next match is Saturday Oct 21 at 1130 EDT between Petro de Luanda & Sundowns. Then 2 on Sunday: Mazembe v Tunis at 1100 and Enyimba v Wydad at 1400.

 

 

[RJB]

What is the point of this?  If the champions league is continuing, this tournament seems to be a doubling of it.  

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The money trail is too murky to know why AFL was launched. 

CAF Champions League has its issues especially in terms of travel costs and logistics. Some of the clubs who make deep runs often screw up arrangements due to lack of resources and also end up losing money.

Original AFL plan was to cut travel by having 3 regional groups of 24 teams. But already, Wednesday matches were pushed to Thursday because Nigeria's Enyimba waited 6.5 hours in a Moroccan airport and then went back to their hotel.

And the pot of gold hasn't shown up either from sponsors or media rights. Infantino has said it's part of a 3 pillar approach of refereeing, infrastructure and competition to finally see African football reach its expected potential.

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The 2 leg Final kicks off Sunday at 1245 ET in Casblanca. Second leg is on Sunday November 12th at 800 ET in Pretoria.

Wydad defeated Tunis in penalties to make the Final. Mamelodi Sundowns overcame Al Ahly 1-0 aggregate to make the Final. 

Matches are freely available from the competition's website, Youtube, FIFA+, Bein Extra (smart tvs/fubo) and also on DAZN.

As de rigeur for these type of competitions, there is an anthem. Part of the vocals are done by Cameroonian Spirit-T but strangley, everything else is European from the composer, lyrics and choir.

 

Edited November 4, 2023 by red card

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Sundowns come back in leg 2 to win on aggregate 3-2 over Wydad. 

Now, we'll have to see if the competition actually grows to the level orginally envisioned.

 

Edited November 12, 2023 by red card