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The prize structure is meticulously crafted, with the winner bagging a substantial USD 4,000,000, the runner-up procuring USD 3,000,000, while the semi-finalists are to receive USD 1,700,000 each.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the enticing prize money for the inaugural African Football League (AFL).
This avant-garde competition is set to spotlight the crème de la crème of football clubs on the African continent.
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This groundbreaking league is scheduled to commence on Friday, 20 October 2023, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The prize structure is meticulously crafted, with the winner bagging a substantial USD 4,000,000, the runner-up procuring USD 3,000,000, while the semi-finalists are to receive USD 1,700,000 each.
All the eight teams in the competition will earn USD 1,000,000 at least, with competition starting at the quarter finals.
"The Prize Money is appealing and competitive as the Winning Club will only play 6 matches to win the substantial Prize Money of $ 4,000,000," CAF said.
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Amongst the participants are high-caliber clubs including Enyimba FC (Nigeria), Wydad AC (Morocco), Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), and Atlético Petróleos de Luanda (Angola).
The quarter-finals are anticipated to kickstart with an exhilarating matchup between Simba Sports Club and Al-Ahly, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania.
The game pits Wekindu wa Msimbazi who have reached the CAF Champions League quarter-final on four occasions as they lock horns with the 11-time continental titleholder, Al-Ahly.
The second quarter-final match showcases a showdown between T.P Mazembe from DR Congo and Tunisian contenders, Esperance.
Mazembe will host the first leg on October 21, while Esperance will the host the return match on October 25. This will be a matchup between two very strong sides.
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T.P Mazembe are the second most successful club in the CAF Champions League while the Tunisian giants have won the tournament four times.
The third quarter-final match will see Nigerian representatives Enyimba take on Moroccan side Waydad Casablanca on October 22. The return match will be played in Morocco on October 25.
Enyimba are the first Nigerian team to have won the CAF Champions League- a feat they achieved in 2003 and 2004. Waydad have won Africa’s most prestigious tournament three times.
Denis Onyango’s Mamelodi Sundowns meanwhile will face the test against Angola’s Petro de Luanda.
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The first leg, scheduled for October 21 in Angola, will be followed by the return leg in South Africa on October 24.
The excitement starts on October 20, 2023, with the Opening Ceremony in Dar es Salam, Tanzania. The semi-finals are set for October 29 to November 1.
The grand finale, where we'll know the first AFL winner, takes place on November 5 and November 11, 2023.
This inaugural AFL season a sneak peek of the bigger league that will happen in the 2024/2025 football season as it will expand to a 22-team league.
The inception of AFL marks a significant stride, reflecting a sneak peek into the expansive league anticipated in the 2024/2025 football season, which will unfold a broader 22-team league.
Established in a strategic partnership with FIFA, the AFL aims to catapult the quality of African Club football to global competitiveness and ensure the commercial viability of African football clubs.
CAF envisions that the AFL’s commercial success will be a fountain of financial contributions, benefiting all 54 CAF Member Associations, including those that might not have football clubs participating in the AFL.
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