The Super League failed in Europe, but it will take off in Africa next year. Backed by FIFA, it will bring in big money

Super League. Controversial topic. It has not yet been successful in Europe and almost none of the clubs that have sought it are behind the idea. In Africa, however, things look different. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the creation of the Super League and FIFA is also backing the project. The first season will start next year.

It has been a turbulent period when twelve major European clubs have suddenly announced the formation of a European Super League. But with protests and fan backlash, almost all of them quickly pulled out and soon it was all over. Only Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus still stand behind its creation.

And while it has failed in Europe, the opposite is true in Africa, where the first season of the new project is expected to start in August 2023. 24 African clubs from 16 countries are expected to participate. The competition is expected to bring big profits and big growth to African football.

$100 million will be at stake, the project is also supported by FIFA

The African Super League can look forward to rewards of $100 million. The winner of the competition will pocket 11.6 million. In addition, it is envisaged that each of the 54 member associations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will receive a solidarity earnings of $1 million annually.

There is nowhere near that kind of money in the African Champions League. Its winner gets only $2 million. That is also why I see the African Super League project in a rather positive light compared to how it has been perceived in Europe.

“The Super League represents the most significant intervention to significantly improve the quality of African football. It will represent the best on the continent and we perceive a great appetite from investors to get involved in this project,” DW quotes CAF chief Patrice Motsepe as saying.

FIFA sees great potential in Super League

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino is also backing the competition. In fact, he first spoke about the concept of an African Super League back in February 2020 at a seminar in Morocco. At that time, however, he spoke about the top 20 African teams. However, he was convinced that the competition could generate revenues of at least USD 200 million. “That would put it in the top 10 in the world,” Infantino is clear.

For CAF, revenue is very important at the moment. Indeed, it has suffered losses of nearly $45 million in 2020/21 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The fear is particularly acute in South Africa

As already mentioned, there is not much opposition to the Super League in Africa. South Africa is an exception. The latter fears that it is a risky move for African football.

“African football may not recover from the wreckage that the Super League may become,” expressed the players’ union in South Africa.

To make matters worse, Cape Town City FC owner John Comitis describes the Super League as a super stupid idea. He fears it will kill African club football. “You can turn off the lights in domestic leagues,” he said.

Source: DW, CAF