While the African Football Superleague is under study within CAF, the rules of the competition have already been decided. Explanations.
On November 26, brought together by Patrice Motsepe, the South African at the head of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the members of the continental organization held an Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt. CAF members had, at this meeting, "recognized the potential benefit of a pan-African superleague and encouraged the CAF Executive Committee to continue its study and its investigations in order to finalize its plan for the launch of the competition.
An idea in the pipes of the CAF for several months. By sealing the “Rabat Pact”, which had allowed Motsepe to be the sole candidate in the election for the presidency of CAF, the South African had obtained the support of the boss of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, against the creation of a future "league Africa" closed, bringing together the biggest continental clubs.
24 teams, millions of dollars
One hundred days after his election in a sham ballot, Patrice Motsepe reiterated his desire to launch an African elite championship. The South African then proposed that the events organized by CAF become "of competitive quality at the world level". And if Europe failed to set up a Super League project, Motsepe said he wanted to learn from this failure to better create his own closed championship.
Of course, money is the engine of the CAF boss, especially for his club Mamelodi Sundowns FC. According to the Egyptian newspaper Filgoal, the bonuses paid to future participants of the African Superleague are already known: each of the 24 teams that will join the competition organized by CAF will receive 1 million dollars, just for their participation. The winning team will receive up to $10 million. A distribution of the prizes will certainly be made for the other teams arriving at an advanced stage of the competition.
A selection that benefits historic clubs
The Egyptian newspaper also describes the sporting operation of the Superleague: three geographical groups will be created - a group for North Africa, another for West and Central Africa, a last one for South Africa and East Africa. At the end of the group stage, five teams will be qualified in each group, as well as the best sixth for the round of XNUMX.
It remains to be seen who will participate in the Superleague. According to our information, if it sees the light of day, it will replace the African Champions League. What handicap the teams which would create the surprise by winning a national championship. Because CAF intends to retain the 24 most successful teams over the last five years.
It will therefore be necessary to take an interest in the CAF classification at the time of the creation of the Superleague which, if it sees the light of day, will allow the most upscale clubs on the continent to play among themselves.