A new soccer league plans to bring together top teams across Africa — and offer prize money far greater than the continent’s Champions League.
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe and FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the launch of an African Super League on Wednesday. The tournament will offer $100 million in prizes.
- The league will bring together 24 teams across 16 countries, with a maximum of three per country. Each team will get an initial $2.5 million to help cover travel and logistics.
- The winner will receive $11.6 million. The Champions League winner currently receives $2.5 million.
- The league will start in August 2023 and run to the following May.
The tournament is expected to generate $200 million, according to a presentation seen by the BBC. The Confederation of African Football lost $45 million in 2020-21.
Don’t Call it ‘Super’
The league is making certain distinctions from the European Super League, which failed amid fan and even government pushback. Previous reports said it would be named the African Football League, in part to avoid connotations with the European project.
The league will have promotion and relegation – a key structural element to the major European soccer leagues that was absent from the European Super League.
Motsepe has said previously that the league will help African teams retain their top players, who might otherwise seek larger paydays in Europe.
