Four top African teams had booked a place in the next round of the African Football League as the new tournament created by CAF continues to satisfy spectators.
The reigning champions of the CAF Champions League Al Ahly of Egypt, Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club, Tunisia’s Espérance de Tunis, and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, are the semi-finalists of the tournament.
It was revealed that the winners of the tournament will take home the sum of $4 million as prize money.
Meanwhile, Al Ahly have been tipped to win the African Football League.
How the Four Football Clubs Made It to the Semi-Finals of the Tournament
Al Ahly
The Egyptian side played a 2-2 draw with Simba S.C. of Tanzannia in the first leg of the African Football League on October 20, 2023.
The second leg also ended in a 1-1 draw, but Al Ahly were allowed to qualify for the next round of the tournament on away goal rule.
Wydad Athletic Club
The Moroccan team played their first-leg encounter against Nigeria’s Enyimba on October 22, 2023. The Morocco club defeated Enyimba with a lone goal.
The second leg of the quarterfinals happened on October 26, 2023, in Morocco.
Wydad Athletic Club scored three goals in the first half, making it impossible for the Nigerian team to make a comeback.
Espérance de Tunis
The Tunisia football club lost to TP Mazembe in the first leg of the quarter finals by 1-0 on October 22, 2023.
However it was a different ball came after TP Mazembe came to Tunis and got defeated with the score line being 3-0 on October 26, 2023.
Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns defeated its counterpart Petro de Luanda at home 2-0 on October 21, 2023. The second leg was a goalless draw between the two teams on October 24, 2023.
African Football League Semi Finals Fixtures And Kick Off Time
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Ahly
October 29, 2023, Kick off Time: 2:00 pm GMT
Wydad AC vs ES Tunis
October 29, 2023, kick off Time: 7:00 pm GMT
Facts You Should Know About African Football League
The tournament was founded on July 17, 2021, and was finally launched in August 2022.
It was revealed that the tournament will generate a sum of $100 million, and there are plans to make use of it to build stadiums and other infrastructure for sports.
The winner receive $4 million, while the runner-up receive $3 million. Also, $1,700,000 for each semi-finalist and $1,000,000 for each quarter-finalist team.
The competition was subjected to different criticisms as a result of unrealistic financial expectations.
CAF claimed that due to the travel costs for fans, it would be difficult to attain the $100 million expected in revenue.
There are also doubts about whether the competition can attract public attention like the CAF Champions League and other club competitions in Africa.
