AFRICA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Enyimba may get ‘wild card’ card entry into restructured African Super League

Published

1 year ago

June 28, 2023

The landscape of the proposed African Super League continues to change as even a possible change of name is in the offing.

The initial proposed August kick-off is no longer feasible as October is being considered as a possible take off period.

Also altered is the initial 24-team format which has been drastically reduced to eight. The composition of the eight club has also generated controversy.

CAF billionaire president, Patrice Motsepe told South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in Johannesburg that the approached sponsors of the $100 million prize money are not happy with the word ‘Super’ attached to the competition.

The CAF president failed to give the details about the prize money, the format or the names of the teams for the first edition.

But according to AFP, the line-up of the eight clubs will include the 2023 Champions League semi-finalists – Al Ahly of Egypt, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, Esperance of Tunisia and Motsepe-owned Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

The French news agency also speculated that Nigeria’s Enyimba along with TP Mazembe of DR Congo, Simba of Tanzania and Petro Atletico of Angola may also take part.

AFP however reasoned that the final list may anger some countries, especially Algeria whose clubs have been excluded despite good performances in recent seasons.

Chabab Belouizdad have reached the quarter-finals of the last three Champions Leagues and USM Alger won the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup this season.

Enyimba have not reached the Champions League knockout stage since 2011, but it would be unthinkable to have an Africa Super League without the most populous country in the continent.

Mazembe are the equal second most successful club in CAF competitions with 11 titles, but have fared poorly in recent seasons, losing five of six 2023 Confederation Cup group matches.

Motsepe said CAF “know the dates” but did not reveal them, then explained why some major sponsors have a problem with the title.

Negative connotations

“Some sponsors say the history of the Super League in Europe was not good and if you associate the name ‘super’ with a football competition, it has negative connotations.

“A name change is, therefore, on the agenda,” conceded Motsepe. A planned European Super League collapsed within 48 hours in 2021 after a backlash from fans, governments and players, which forced nine of the 12 teams who signed up to pull out.

The founding members were Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Motsepe and FIFA president Gianni Infantino launched the Super League last August in the Tanzanian town of Arusha amid much fanfare.

“The Super League is one of the most exciting developments in the history of African football… our objective is to see our clubs compete with the best in the world,” Motsepe said.

“The intention is to use $100 million as prize money and to do that every year so that the club which wins gets $11.5 million.”

CAF club competition entrants have constantly complained about prize money, saying it does not even cover expenses like travel and accommodation.

The Cairo based confederation did increase prize money last season with the Champions League winners receiving four million dollars — up from $2.5 million.

There was also a boost to the top prize in the Confederation Cup — the African equivalent of the Europa League — with the winners pocketing two million dollars.

AFRICA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Gusau hails Nigeria’s big win at 2023 CAF Awards

Published

8 months ago

December 12, 2023

Kunle Solaja

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau was a very happy man on Monday night, as Nigeria swept important honours at this year’s CAF Football Awards held in Marrakech, Morocco.

The NFF supremo was personally present at the Hotel Movenpick and collected the first honour that came Nigeria’s way – Women’s National Team of the Year.

He dedicated the award to all women football teams on the African continent.

The Paris FC of France safe hands made a moving speech: “To all the young girls growing up in Africa, dreaming of becoming a footballer one day, believe me dreams do come true. My dad didn’t want me to play football but I’m sure he’s gonna see this and be happy. So, keep dreaming, keep working and I believe that one day you’ll get to this stage.”

After Asisat Oshoala won a record-extending sixth award as Player of the Year (Women) the auditorium went silent as it was time to present the men’s version. Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah were the final three.

Osimhen was crowned, becoming the first Nigeria player in 24 years to take the gong. The last person was Nwankwo Kanu, back in 1999. Kanu also won in 1996, after Rashidi Yekini in 1993 and Emmanuel Amuneke in 1994. Victor Ikpeba took the crown in 1997.

Gusau said: “I am very excited tonight. This has been hugely rewarding for our football and for our country as a whole. I congratulate Osimhen, Oshoala and Nnadozie, and I congratulate the Super Falcons as a team for bringing us this honour.

“My charge would be that they all keep doing what they know how to do best, keep improving and keep winning. The sky will be the beginning for them.”

Osimhen became the first player in the history of the African Football Awards to have been crowned Player of the Year (Men) after having pocketed the Young Player of the Year (Men) in an earlier year. Only last Monday, the 24-year-old was crowned the 2022/2023 Player of the Year in Italy’s Serie A, after having won the Young Player of the Year in the same league in the 2021/2022 season.

AFRICA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Gusau hails Nigeria’s big win at 2023 CAF Awards

Published

8 months ago

December 12, 2023

Kunle Solaja

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau was a very happy man on Monday night, as Nigeria swept important honours at this year’s CAF Football Awards .

The NFF supremo was personally present at the Hotel Movenpick and collected the first honour that came Nigeria’s way – Women’s National Team of the Year<span.

He dedicated the award to all women football teams on the African continent.

Chiamaka Nnadozie, who shone brightly at the FIFA World Cup finals in Down Under this year summer as the Super Falcons reached the Round of 16, was the undoubted winner of the honour of Goalkeeper of the Year (Women).The Paris FC of France safe hands made a moving speech: “To all the young girls growing up in Africa, dreaming of becoming a footballer one day, believe me dreams do come true. My dad didn’t want me to play football but I’m sure he’s gonna see this and be happy. So, keep dreaming, keep working and I believe that one day you’ll get to this stage.”

After Asisat Oshoala won a record-extending sixth award as Player of the Year (Women)<span;>, the auditorium went silent as it was time to present the men’s version. Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah were the final three.

My charge would be that they all keep doing what they know how to do best, keep improving and keep winning. The sky will be the beginning for them.”

AFRICA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

VIDEO: The Eagle has landed! Osimhen hits Marrakech in private Jet

Published

8 months ago

December 11, 2023

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA. Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, MOROCCO

The star man of the day, Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen has finally landed in the Atlas Mountain city of Marrakech which is hosting the 2023 CAF Awards.

Dressed in sky blue shirts over an orange vest and blue shorts, the Napoli talismanic striker landed in a chattered private jet.

He is hoped to break the 24-year jinx that has afflicted Nigeria in the lead category of the CAF Awards. Nwankwo Kanu who was honoured on the opening match of the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations in Lagos was the last Nigerian to have won.

That award was for the 1999 edition.