CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe has now officially unveiled the African Football League trophy that will up for grabs.
The inaugural AFL campaign is set to kick off later this evening, when Tanzanian side Simba SC take on Egypt's Al Ahly at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Read: Al Ahly 'suffer' two major blows ahead of AFL opener
Other clubs involved in the newly-created competition are South Africa's very own Mamelodi Sundowns, Petro de Luanda (Angola), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Esperance (Tunisia), Enyimba (Nigeria), and Wydad Casablanca (Morocco).
With the teams set to compete for the lucrative $4 million (R76 million) in prize money on offer, the silverware they are after has now officially been unveiled by Motsepe at a press conference on Friday afternoon.
8?? Teams ??1?? Cup ??Who will be the first #AFL champion? ????#CAF | #FIFA pic.twitter.com/Pl4dRUhodV
— African Football League (@afl_africa) October 20, 2023
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"The most important thing for African football is we have to win on the field of play. African football will only get the recognition, the respect it deserves by winning on the field of play," Motsepe said at the unveiling of the trophy.
"The African Football League is one of the most important partnerships, foundations that is going to make a huge contribution to make sure that African football is globally competitive.
"African football spectators love European football, they watch it, they watch Brazilian football, they also watch football from all over the world that is exciting, that is talented, that is attractive, and that wins.
"We are proud because we've produced some of the best players in the world and there's a clear understanding that we have to make African football attractive, and the most attractive way is to win."
https://t.co/kc6imZZUH3 pic.twitter.com/sGP2xO9A9j
— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) October 20, 2023
The CAF President added that the tournament will revolutionise football on the continent.
"This African Football League is changing African club competition for the better, making it extremely competitive, making it globally competitive and part of the competitiveness is the prize money," Motsepe added.
"We've got to make sure the prize money for CAF competitions is world-class and make sure that some of that money goes into the pockets of the players, because you will improve your chances of winning by attracting the best and you attract the best by paying among the best."
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