The Africa Super League was launched in Tanzania this week amid a lot fanfare, with enormous prize cash for the 24 golf equipment who qualify for the primary version subsequent yr.
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Teams successful the present marquee competitors, the CAF Champions League, pocket $2.5 million. Winners of the Super League shall be $11.5 million richer.
The first version of the Super League is ready to kick off in August 2023, proceed till May 2024 and culminate in a “Super Bowl-like” last.
Below, a have a look at what is thought concerning the Africa Super League and likewise what is just not recognized a few competitors set to offer soccer in Africa a substantial increase.
Known
The Super League will start with three eight-club regional teams – north, west-centre, south-east – and every workforce performs the opposite seven at house and away.
The prime 5 finishers in every part plus the most effective sixth-placed facet advance to a knockout section consisting of a spherical of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals over two legs and a last.
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Qualifiers shall be determined by rankings primarily based on ends in CAF competitions over a time period but to be introduced.
There will reportedly be golf equipment from 16 international locations within the launch version with a most of three from a nation. Morocco might present Casablanca golf equipment Raja and Wydad plus Renaissance Berkane.
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The authentic plan to have 20 everlasting Super League members with just a few further golf equipment qualifying has been scrapped.
Instead, promotion-relegation play-offs from the top of the primary version will decide the make-up.
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CAF president Patrice Motsepe mentioned every qualifier would obtain $3.5 million up entrance to cowl journey and lodging prices and to strengthen squads.
Travel prices severely deplete the funds of Champions League opponents with solely the 16 golf equipment who attain the group stage receiving prize cash, beginning at $550 000.
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VAR shall be utilized in all 197 group and knockout matches, which CAF hopes will dramatically cut back the variety of complaints about biased refereeing.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed creating an elite panel of full-time African referees, who can be funded by the world physique with poor performances triggering demotion.
Unknown
Who will make the reduce is uppermost within the ideas of African soccer followers, and Raja, Wydad, Berkane, Al Ahly and Zamalek from Egypt and Esperance Tunis appear certainties.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates of South Africa, TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Horoya of Guinea are additionally prone to be included judged by latest CAF outcomes.
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South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs reached the 2021 Champions League last, however in any other case have made little impression in Africa, typically making early exits after fielding below-strength groups.
But Amakhosi are among the many largest soccer manufacturers in Africa, are professionally run and boast world-class amenities. That mentioned, will they be ranked excessive sufficient to safe inclusion?
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The Nigerian nationwide workforce is among the many strongest in Africa, however native golf equipment have fared poorly in CAF competitions for a lot of seasons, with solely Enyimba making any impression.
Enyimba, primarily based in southeastern metropolis Aba, ought to make it, however they’ll most likely be the one membership from probably the most populous nation in Africa to characteristic within the maiden Super League.
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CAF are desperately looking for a worldwide TV viewers for the Super League, however should compete with a flood of nationwide workforce and membership protection from Europe.
Mondays and Fridays are the least congested days on the subject of TV, and the most effective choices for Super League matches, however no plans relating to match days have been disclosed.
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CAF say they’ll retain the Champions League and second-tier Confederation Cup competitions, presumably as knockout competitions with the present group levels ditched.
Add the Super League, the place the finalists will fulfil 21 fixtures, and officers operating home championships and cups should concern fixture congestion.
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By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
