In Africa too, a Super League project was mentioned
Mazembe midfielder Miche Mika, February 28, 2020. AFP - STR
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
5 mins
In Europe, twelve big clubs had announced the creation of a Super League before a wave of defections launched by Manchester City buried it.
In Africa, a similar project was mentioned in January 2020 by FIFA President Gianni Infantino: that of a pan-African league with 20 to 24 teams.
An idea that briefly resurfaced in March 2021 but whose realization remains unclear.
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“
At FIFA, we can only strongly disapprove of the creation of a Super League which is a closed structure, which is a break with the current institutions, leagues, associations, UEFA and FIFA
.
On April 20, 2021, during the Congress of the European Football Confederation (UEFA), the President of the International Federation (FIFA) Gianni Infantino criticized the creation of a private league in Europe, a few hours before the project began. to roll over.
A mature project in the spirit of Gianni Infantino
On January 31, 2020 in Sale in Morocco, Gianni Infantino praised a Super League in Africa supposed to replace the African Champions League (C1). But it was in front of the leaders of the African Football Confederation (CAF) supposed to be associated with this process, unlike what is happening on the Old Continent. "
My proposal is something that others have been talking about for decades but they have never done it: it is to create a pan-African club football league, had launched the successor of Sepp Blatter. A real African league! A Super League, call it what you want. But a league that covers the entire continent, with 20 to 24 clubs. Maybe with a maximum of 2 clubs for a country. A competition that takes place over the year - with clubs continuing to play in their national championship during the season - to crown the African club champion
”.
He added: "
The idea would be to have 20 fixed clubs and 4 clubs which can go up and down by winning championships in the different countries and in the different zones to still keep a spirit and a participation from all of Africa. . But the elite must be able to be there. If we only have about fifteen countries represented there, it will already be ten more countries than in Europe where there are only five countries which are represented in the elite. And we will have already done much better.
"
The Swiss had also already thought about the financial and marketing aspects. “
An African Super League could generate at least $ 200 million in business income overnight. With 200 million in income, this would automatically project this league into the top 10 in the world
, he assured.
Of course, the Salahs and Mané will continue to play at Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, Dortmund, etc. Because they are going to earn a lot a lot more. The best go to the biggest clubs. The runners-up go to clubs halfway through the big league standings. The third will play in the European mid-table leagues. The fourth best Africans will go to Western Europe
(sic).
The fifth will go to Asia.
Only the sixth or seventh best African remains in Africa.
We cannot develop African football like that
”.
An idea without follow-up?
In 2019 and 2020, this idea was raised directly with various clubs in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa likely to participate.
On the other hand, it does not seem that a reflection was clearly open to CAF on the subject.
An informed source believes that this point was not discussed during the meetings of the Executive Committee of CAF.
On March 12, 2021, Patrice Motsepe was elected to head African football.
The principle of a Super League was not included in his campaign program.
No more than in those of his three ex-rivals, Augustin Senghor, Ahmed Yahya and Jacques Anouma, who became respectively first vice-president of CAF, second vice-president and special advisor to the president.
During the three press conferences that the South African hosted - one before his election and two after - he did not address this idea, he who is however the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, a club strongly concerned by a Super League.
"
We must significantly increase sponsorship for the Champions League
," he had just slipped.
Does this mean that the Covid-19 crisis has buried the African Super League and / or that it would not interest the leaders of the continental round ball? On March 12, 2021 in Rabat, shortly after the election of Patrice Motsepe, the Tanzanian Barbara Gonzalez caused trouble. The one who is the patron of the Simba club posted this message on social networks, accompanied by a photo with Infantino: “
It was a nice meeting with the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, on the sidelines of # CAFElections2021. The roll-out of the African Super League with 20 permanent member clubs is underway. We can't wait to see @SimbaSCTanzania participating soon.
Since then, there has been radio silence on this project. Will the African Super League be the first competition of its kind to emerge in club football?
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