This is why Africa needs Super League – CAF president Patrice Motsepe

Patrice Motsepe, CAF President

FOOTBALL This is why Africa needs Super League – CAF president Patrice Motsepe

Kiplagat Sang 18:53 - 29.05.2023

The introduction of the elite competition was not wholly accepted, as many questions surrounded its conception.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe has explained why Africa need the Super League.

The competition is set to start in the 2024–25 season, and CAF had to deal with persistent criticism and questions regarding the tournament.

To Motsepe, the financial rewards that the clubs are set to get are the primary motivation why they adopted the idea.

"That is why we are introducing the Super League to make sure there is more money for the clubs and the players," Motsepe said, as quoted by Sowetan Live.

"We have to help with transport; there are a lot of amounts spent travelling around the continent by clubs or national teams, and that’s where the prize money helps.

"In the Super League, all those countries that are participating are going to get $1 million to help them buy players and travel.

"It is a simple proposition for the improvement of football on the African continent – you get more sponsors, you get more partners coming in to invest more money, and we should use that money to pay players more and keep them on the continent because we can pay competitive salaries."

Motsepe argued that the money generated from the Super League can be used to develop other aspects of club football.

"We can use that money to invest in academies – clubs cannot keep on buying expensive players, it doesn’t make commercial sense," he said.

"The best investment is to get them young, from 8 to 13 years old, and get them into academies."

The African football governing body recently revealed that the prize money for the Champions League and Confederation Cup will be increased.

"We have increased the prize money for CAF competitions by 60%. There has to be a level of competitiveness and excitement," explained the South African businessman and football administrator.

"I am hopeful the prize money will be used to pay the players and to give them bonuses. I am happy with the performance of all the clubs on the continent because the clubs are the backbone of the national teams."

Both competitions are at their ultimate stages, with Egypt’s Al Ahly and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca set to battle for the Champions League. Tanzania's Yanga and Algeria’s USM Alger are this season’s Confederation Cup finalists.