Africa to announce $100-million soccer Super League plans on Wednesday

JOHANNESBURG — An African Super League is to be announced on Wednesday by Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe with the promise of $100-million in prize money for clubs across the continent.

The project has been in the pipeline since it was first suggested by FIFA president Gianni Infantino in early 2020 and met with almost none of the derision and outrage that followed a similar attempt in Europe last year.

Only the players’ union in South Africa, in a statement this week, has criticised the plan, saying: “Professional football in South Africa and Africa could be at risk if the resolution to commence with the Super League is implemented and there may be no return from the wreckage that a Super League can become.”

Motsepe has promised sponsorship and revenue returns previously unheard of for African football, where the annual Champions League winner earns $2.5-million in prize money.

He has claimed, at several previous news conferences, that the Super League will allow clubs to pay top talent wages to match those in Europe and therefore allow African teams to keep their best players.

The Super League, which officials told Reuters is likely to be named the African Football League to disassociate it with the negative connotations of last year’s flopped European Super League plans, will have 24 teams and start in August next year.

It will have $100-million in prize money with $11.6 for the winner. CAF also intends paying each African football association $1-milion annually from the league’s earnings. There are 54 member associations of CAF.