African Super League: What You Need to Know

Why have a Super League?

There still remains a large gap between African football and Europe, both in quality and financial backing. The African Super League project is designed to grow the value and quality of African football through investment, sponsors and other mediums. The goal is to boost engagement of African football fans and financially strengthen clubs and member associations in the continent. “Football is finance” Motsepe candidly stated during the announcement, in truth that is what modern football has become. In order to retain and attract the best players in Africa (and globally) the clubs need to generate more funds to enable them to appropriately compensate these players. With an initial cash injection of $2.5m for the first 24 participants, clubs are better positioned to fulfil these objectives. Motsepe further elaborated, that the target is to raise funds for “football infrastructures, for players, for club owners, stakeholders. We are talking anything between $250m to $300m every year”. 

Format?

The African Super League will consist of 24 teams (from at least 16 different countries) with no more than 3 teams from one country. 197 matches will be played from August to May, commencing in a group format, advancing into a playoff system and closing out with a final in ‘Super Bowl-like’ fashion. Relegation and promotion will be included, and the winner is set to earn $11.6m, as well as all 54 CAF member associations receiving a $1m cash reward per annum from the ASL. 

Reaction? 

The announcement of the African Super League has not been met with the same outrage that followed the disastrous attempt in Europe last year. Infantino was wisely swift to distant the ASL from the European Super League, stating that this was a “different proposition…done within the football pyramid structure”. 

Former Nigeria international Finidi George welcomes the implementation of the league, stating in his interview with GOAL that the league will “help with the development of football in Africa”. 

Opposition to the ASL only seems to be coming from the player’s union in South Africa, with an official statement stating that not only would professional football within the country and continent be “at risk” if the Super League is implemented, but “there may be no return from the wreckage that a Super League can become”. It’s tough to argue against their sentiments particularly as the 3 teams per country rule of the ASL could impact what is already a highly competitive South African league. That said, the disapproval of one country out of an entire continent, can hardly be described as an outrage.