July 19 – Despite the failure of the European Super League project, African football is accelerating plans for its own continental super league following the competition’s apparent approval in principal by the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
On the eve of the African Champions League final in Morocco, plans that will reshape African club football were taken to the next level with a discussion at the ruling body’s executive committee.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe reiterated that CAF was in talks with various broadcasters on the formation of the competition and highlighted that the inter-club committee led by Ahmed Yahya from Mauritania is establishing the blueprint for the super league.
“I am excited that so many broadcasting companies have come to us and said that ‘we want to be part of this African super league’,” said Motsepe at a news conference.
“CAF has a duty to all of Africa. The benefits of the African super league will be shared and it will extend to every single one of the 54 countries in Africa. Ahmed Yahya is leading us with his committee to further assess and advise CAF on the details of what we call an inclusive (competition) – because every single country, every single one of the 54 countries in Africa is going to benefit and be part. Money will go to them to help develop football among the youth and to help the administrators in those countries.”
Emboldened by the support of FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino, CAF president Motsepe and his executive board believe Africa can succeed where Europe failed and launch its own version of the super league. Infantino first mooted the idea in 2019, saying he favoured 20 permanent African Super League members plus others who would qualify via regional play-offs.
Motsepe said the super league would be underpinned by the principles of grassroots development, inclusion and general development, but he could offer little detail yet on the revenues the competition is expected to generate, which according to Infantino could bring in $3-billion over a five-year period.
The CAF president said: “The discussion that we are having indicates that some of the revenue will be not just competitive, but also attractive. Usually, in these sort of agreements, particularly in the stage that we are at – where it is preliminary discussions – we are not at liberty to disclose numbers, but if we can keep some of the best players to play in Africa – because they get paid very well – it is good for the development of African football. With the super league and with significant financial resources, it takes African football to the next level.”
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