Africa Super League: For Real

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Bell
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Africa Super League: For Real

Post by Bell »

This first came to light here several months ago after enuguii brought it to our notice. At that time, it wasn't clear if it was a serious idea or or a half-baked idea with no serious intent behind it. But now it seems real and the details are being made. I'm sure cybereagles posters will have a field day offering their opinions. I'm still reflecting over available details before taking a final position. I went back and forth if this is the proper forum for it and finally decided to post it here because of it's huge domestic implications.
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https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/62493696


By Celestine Karoney
BBC Sport Africa in Arusha, Tanzania
Last updated on10 August 202210 August 2022.

The creation of the Africa Super League will transform football on the continent forever, according to Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe.

Plans are for the 24-team club tournament to begin in the 2023-24 campaign, with an overall prize fund of $100m (£81.9m) and the winner earning $11.6m.

"Part of the overall strategy is using the Africa Super League to significantly and fundamentally improve the quality of football on the continent," Motsepe told BBC Sport Africa.

The format will see 197 matches played from August to May, which Caf say will lead to a 'Super Bowl-like' final.

The main selling point of the Africa Super League, which Motsepe officially launched on Wednesday at the Caf general assembly in Tanzania, is the financial rewards it will provide to clubs, member associations and Caf itself.

Caf's 54 member associations will all get a $1m cash award per annum from the Super League kitty, with Caf hoping to earn about $50m which it can dedicate to youth and women's football.

"My objective is to get money for football infrastructure, for players, club owners, stakeholders. We are talking about anything between $250m to $300m every year," Motsepe explained.

"If you look at the numbers, we are talking about $2.5m for each of the 24 clubs to use, to help with transport and accommodation but also to buy players."

The chief executive of Tanzanian club Simba FC agreed with Motsepe's belief that the competition will have a wide-ranging impact.

"This is going to change the face of African football as we know it in terms of investment, exposure and marketing overall," Barbara Gonzalez told BBC Sport Africa.

"As one of the leading football clubs in the region, we're extremely excited about this."

The African Champions League, won by Wydad Casablanca last season, is set to continue but is likely to play second fiddle to the Africa Super League
The addition of the Super League will mean Africa will have three continental club competitions; the Africa Super League, the African Champions League and the Caf Confederation Cup.

Motsepe says that all three must co-exist, with the two already-established competitions also benefiting from the financial windfall expected from the Super League.

The Super League will have participants from 16 countries, with promotion and relegation planned via play-offs.

"I want to be in a situation where there's competition among all the leagues and I want the Champions League to even get more prize money, and to be competitive," the South African added.

Infantino adds backing to Super League project
Football's global governing body Fifa is working with Caf to see that the Africa Super League does indeed take off.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino was alongside Motsepe at the launch in Arusha, and the Swiss-Italian was quick to distance the new competition from the failed attempt to create a Super League by some of Europe's top clubs last year.

"Well, first of all, the Africa Super League is a completely different proposition than what was proposed in Europe, which was a kind of a breakaway thing outside of the structures," Infantino said.

"This is done within the structure within Caf, within Fifa, within the football pyramid structure."

Caf has said it will back Infantino when he seeks re-election as Fifa president next year
Infantino explained Fifa's involvement in a club football project within one of its confederations as the two bodies working "together like a football team".

The 52-year-old said the partnership between the two organisations would "produce results and elevate African club football to the next level" and provide a similar boost to African national sides.

The competition has, however, come under criticism with the South African players' union saying the idea was ill-conceived, while a member attending the general assembly told BBC Sport Africa it could discriminate against smaller clubs.

Motsepe stresses Caf are listening to dissenting voices.

"Part of our job is to engage and to consult with all stakeholders. And sometimes it's more important to listen to those who have got different views and also those who disagree with you," he told Sport Africa.

"I think some of them feel that we haven't spoken to them. We couldn't have spoken to everybody. It's impossible. We will engage with all of them."

Caf is set to announce the finer details of the Africa Super League in coming months, including on matters around promotion and relegation, and some attendees in Tanzania who spoke to the BBC would also like to see a financial model.

The continent's governing body is also yet to disclose how it will finance the league - with the latest audit report of accounts showing Caf needs a major cash injection to support this kind of elaborate venture in the next 12 months.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Caf's member associations pledged to support Infantino in his bid to be re-elected as Fifa president next year, underlining the close ties between the two organisations as African football seeks a slice of the riches seen in the European club game.
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Mr. Piffington
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Re: Africa Super League: For Real

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The logistics will be a nightmare.
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Re: Africa Super League: For Real

Post by Eaglezbeak »

Mr. Piffington wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:25 pm The logistics will be a nightmare.
Only clubs that can compete should be involved even if that means North Africans,South African and the one Congolese club and Simba.Until the majority of African football clubs embrace professionalism they can continue doing whatever keeps them afloat if that’s relying on governors or paying to stay in their top divisions so be it but until they realise that they are not progressing leave it at that.
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Re: Africa Super League: For Real

Post by Bell »

Mr. Piffington wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:25 pm The logistics will be a nightmare.

KEEP IN MIND THAT...


...they'll be grouped in three regions until (I guess) the final stages to minimize travel distance, the only major cost. Lodging remains the same, regardless of site.
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Re: Africa Super League: For Real

Post by Bell »

Eaglezbeak wrote: Sat Aug 13, 2022 5:19 pm
Mr. Piffington wrote: Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:25 pm The logistics will be a nightmare.
Only clubs that can compete should be involved even if that means North Africans,South African and the one Congolese club and Simba.Until the majority of African football clubs embrace professionalism they can continue doing whatever keeps them afloat if that’s relying on governors or paying to stay in their top divisions so be it but until they realise that they are not progressing leave it at that.

WE'LL KNOW BETTER WITH MORE DETAILS, BUT...


...I think the promised cash dole out could encourage some clubs to spend on players and amenities proactively to raise standards. That means some of those better talents bounding overseas might cool it a little bit
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Re: Africa Super League: For Real

Post by Purity »

Enyimba will represent Nigeria in the CAF Super League

Jesus didn't die so we could have religion. He died so we could have a deep, intimate, personal relationship with God.

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