Fifa has unveiled the first-ever African Football League which will showcase best of African club football to fans on the continent and across the globe.
In a statement on Saturday, Fifa said the draw for the maiden league will took place on Saturday in Cairo, Egypt ahead of the start of the competition on October 20, 2023.
"This competition will play a great and effective role in taking African football to the next level, by providing the optimum platform for players and clubs to compete against each other" Fifa President Gianni Infantino said.
The world football governing body said the first edition of the tournament will feature eight of Africa's most famous and successful teams "with several intriguing clashes set to thrill fans on the continent and across the world".
"The competition will be played in knockout format, starting with the eight teams contesting four quarter-final clashes," Fifa said in a statement.
"All ties, including the semi-finals and final, will be played over two legs on a home-and-away basis."
The draw is as follows:
Simba (Tanzania) v Al Ahly (Egypt)
Tout Puissant Mazembe (DR Congo) v Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
Enyimba (Nigeria) v Wydad (Morocco)
Atletico Petroleos de Luanda (Angola) v Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
The AFL will take place over four weeks, kicking off with the opening ceremony and the first match on October 20, 2023 in Dar es Salam, Tanzania.
The semi-finals will be played between October 29, and 1November 1.
The two legs of the final will be contested on November 5 and 11, 2023.
"The inaugural AFL is a precursor to the fully-fledged AFL competition which will feature the 24 highest ranked football African clubs and will commence during the 2024/2025 football season," Fifa said.
The AFL is a partnership between CAF and FIFA.
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