October 2 – CAF has announced that the winners of the African Football League will receive $4 million in prize money, a paltry fee after the promised riches attached to a Super League on the continent.
A breakdown of the total prize money pot of $14.4 million, shows the four losing quarter-finals will receive $1 million, the two losing semi-finalists $1.7 million and the runner-up $3 million.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe long promoted the competition as a game changer for the continent’s game and last year, at the CAF general assembly in Tanzania, the South African billionaire said the competition in a 24-team format would generate $200 million per year with $100 million going into prize money to the participating clubs as well as member associations.
However, in August, CAF scaled back Super League plans to a modest African Football League and said that the competition is a partnership between the confederation and FIFA. The state of CAF’s finances remains perilous, but in a statement the confederation reiterated that the tournament is for the whole of Africa, writing that “CAF’s intention, is that all the 54 CAF Member Associations including the countries that may not have football Clubs in the AFL should benefit and receive financial contributions from the commercial viability and success of the AFL.”
The African Football League kicks off on October 20 in Tanzania with hosts Simba SC playing Al Ahly of Egypt. The other participants are Enyimba of Nigeria, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, TP Mazembe of DR Congo, Esperance of Tunisia and Petro de Luanda of Angola.
However, SABC Sport in South Africa reports that the Premier Soccer League has resolved to turn down an invitation for Mamelodi Sundowns, the club owned by Motsepe’s family.
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