A Safa insider has revealed that the Confederation of African Football (Caf) is negotiating a minefield of a very hectic 2025 calendar year in a desperate attempt to save face and bring back the African Football League (AFL) competition.
After the excitement and hype in its inaugural season, the ground breaking AFL is hanging in the balance and Caf is planning to resuscitate the competition next year.
The scheduling of fixtures problem for the AFL comes against the backdrop of a looming strike by professional players in Europe over a punishing football calendar, which has been exposed putting the health of players at risk.
During the draw for the inaugural tournament last year, Caf said the maiden AFL was a precursor to the fully-fledged 2024/2025 competition, which will feature the 24 highest ranked African football clubs.
Mamelodi Sundowns won the maiden game when they outplayed Wydad Athelic of Morocco in November. Sundowns amassed the sugar-coated R75-million pay cheque.
The AFL is a partnership between Caf and Fifa, and its genesis was initiated by Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
Caf head of competitions Samson Adamu was not available for comment, but Caf communications officer Luxulo September said the federation’s president, Dr Patrice Motsepe, “will make an announcement on the AFL in due course”.
The eight AFL participants were selected from north, central-west and south-east Africa – Egyptian giants Al Ahly, Wydad, Esperance, TP Mazembe, Enyimba FC, Atletico Petroleos de Luanda and Simba SC.
