AFL: Why We Are Starting With 8 Teams - CAF President

AFL: Why We Are Starting With 8 Teams - CAF President

Sampson Adedeji

The President of the Confederation of African Football ( CAF) Patrice Motsepe has revealed the reasons why they are starting the maiden edition of the African Football League with just 8 teams, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Motsepe on Friday said they were unable to get adequate sponsors to arrange for a 24-team competition.

"I must develop football in every one of the 54 nations of Africa, the inaugural African Football League didn’t go the way I wanted it to go, and it’s simply because of money.

“Many of the sponsors said we’re excited about the ‘African Super League’, what it was called but I had to change the name to ‘African Football League’ because some of our sponsors in Europe said to call it whatever you want except for Super League because of the challenges they experienced with the Super League.

“I’m not so worried about what it’s called, I’m more focused on the success and its contributions to the development of African football. 

CAF could have started the inaugural African Football League now during this season 2023/24 but I would have had to accept a little bit less money than we wanted", he said.

Nigeria Premier League champions Enyimba International is among the 8 teams that will commence the tournament.

The quarter-finals take place over two legs between 20-24 October, with the semi-finals set for 29 October and 1 November, and the two-legged final is scheduled for 5 and 11 November.