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Confederation of African football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe confirmed that the tournament will be delayed by two months, among several key changes to the tournament that may also include a name change.
Only eight teams will be on the starting line, when the Africa Super League kicks-off for its inaugural edition in October 2023, according to reports.
Confederation of African football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe confirmed that the tournament will be delayed by two months, among several key changes to the tournament that may also include a name change.
The exact format of the tournament is yet to be revealed, but according to credible sources, only eight teams will be included, deviating from the initial plan of featuring 24 clubs.
CAF had also planned to divide the clubs into three groups based on their geographical region: North Africa, Central and West Africa, and Southern and East Africa.
The selected clubs will include record African champions Al Ahly of Egypt, Wydad Club Athletic (Morocco), Esperance Tunis (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Petro de Luanda (Angola), and Simba SC (Tanzania).
DR Congo’s TP Mazembe, Enyimba of Nigeria, AC Horoya of Guinea and Petro Atletico of Angola may also take part.
The selection has raised eyebrows, particularly due to the absence of certain notable clubs. Algeria, in particular, may feel slighted, as their clubs have displayed impressive performances in recent seasons.
CR Belouizdad have reached the quarter-finals of the last three Champions Leagues and USM Alger won the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup this season.
Additionally, several other powerhouses have also remarkably been left out including Zamalek (Egypt), Raja Casablanca (Morocco), Esperance (Tunisia) and South Africa's Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
However, the selection process aimed to include teams that have proven themselves in recent competitions alongside the continent’s powerhouses.
Enyimba, despite not reaching the Champions League knockout stage since 2011, represents the most populous country in Africa and brings a significant fanbase to the tournament.
TP Mazembe, with their impressive history of 11 CAF titles, will be eager to reclaim their former glory after a string of underwhelming seasons including losing five of six 2023 Confederation Cup group matches.
As the Africa Super League garners attention and anticipation, questions surrounding its financing remain.
Previously, there were discussions of a potential partnership with Saudi Arabia, contingent on CAF's support for the country's bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
However, recent developments suggest that the Saudi bid may no longer be in contention, leaving uncertainty regarding the financial backing of the tournament.
The tournament aims to supersede the long-standing Champions League and CAF Cup, positioning itself as the premier platform for interclub competitions across the continent.
This groundbreaking initiative promises significant financial injections, which are poised to facilitate club development and further enhance the infrastructure and organization of African football.
With an impressive annual prize pool of $100 million, including a remarkable $11.5 million for the victorious club, the ASL aims to address the long-standing issue of inadequate prize money in CAF competitions.
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