tawandamusarurwa
SAUDI ARABIA is in talks with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over a US$200 million (£160 million) deal to sponsor the new African Super League, in an agreement that could help to secure the continent’s support for any future World Cup bid, the Guardian understands.
CAF had been due to launch the 24-team tournament that has been heavily supported by the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, in August, as part of plans to raise the global profile of African clubs and generate increased revenue.
The Super League, first mooted by Infantino in 2018 and announced by CAF’s president Patrice Motsepe in October, is planned to have prize fund of US$100 million that includes US$11,6 million for the winner — almost US$8m more than currently on offer for the winners of the African Champions League — and a solidarity fund that brings each of the 54 CAF member associations US$1 million a year towards football development.
However, it is understood its start will be delayed until the 2024-2025 season, when the sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia is expected to begin and that a slimmed-down version featuring only eight teams will run from October 17 to November 30 next season.
Talks with Saudi Arabia are believed to have been ongoing for some time and a fortnight ago, CAF announced they had signed a five-year cooperation and development agreement with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation — a move they said would “foster growth opportunities for African and Saudi Arabian football”.
They have signed a memorandum of understanding that will focus on initiatives around technical and football development at club and national team level and in grassroots football, women’s football, talent identification, competitions, friendly matches and commercial opportunities.
“CAF is excited to work together and partner with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to develop and grow football on our continent and globally,” said Motsepe in a statement.
“There are also specific areas for mutually beneficial partnerships that we are discussing and announcements will be made in due course.”
It is understood that CAF have been struggling financially since a US$1 billion television and marketing rights deal with the French company Lagardère Sports was cancelled in 2019.
CAF did not comment on a potential Saudi sponsorship of the Super League.
Saudi Arabia has been strongly rumoured to be considering an unprecedented three-continent project to host the 2030 World Cup despite FIFA’s rules preventing Asian Football Confederation nations from hosting a men’s World Cup until 2034, after the selection of Qatar for the 2022 tournament.
A mooted partnership with Greece and Egypt appears unlikely after the Egyptian sports minister said last month, they were not planning to submit a bid before June’s deadline and it is understood Saudi Arabia now sees the 2034 edition as a more feasible option for what would be another winter World Cup, given the extreme summer temperatures there.
It will host the Club World Cup in December and then the Asia Cup for the first time in January 2027, with Infantino known to have a good relationship with the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, after they sat in the same executive box for the Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk heavyweight boxing rematch in Jeddah in August.
“There is a huge will to invest in a project like this, which will give a new visibility to African football,” Infantino said of the new African Super League in October.
“The growth of African club and national team football contributes to the growth of world football. The competition will benefit each and every country, not just with the solidarity payment, but the exposure for African football.” — theguardian.com
Online Reporter