Disappointment: Nigerian Clubs Excluded from Africa Football League

Nigerian football clubs were left disappointed after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overlooked them in the selection process for the highly anticipated maiden edition of the Africa Football League.

The announcement came during the CAF General Assembly held in Abidjan on Thursday, July 13.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously announced the launch of the new eight-team Africa Football League, scheduled to kick off in October 2022, creating immense excitement among football fans across the continent.

However, Nigerian clubs, including Enyimba International FC, will not have the opportunity to participate in this prestigious tournament.

The African Football League initially aimed to include 24 teams but eventually settled on just eight teams for the inaugural edition.

Unfortunately, no Nigerian club secured a place in this exclusive selection, leaving football fans in the country disheartened.

The quarterfinals of the Africa Football League will feature South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Angola’s Petro Atletico, Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe, Al Ahly from Egypt, Horoya from Guinea, Wydad Casablanca from Morocco, Tanzania’s Simba, and Esperance of Tunisia.

These clubs have been chosen to represent their respective nations in this groundbreaking competition.

With Nigerian clubs boasting a rich history and impressive achievements in the sport, fans and football pundits had high hopes for their inclusion.

Enyimba International FC, in particular, has been crowned Nigerian champions an impressive nine times.

However, despite their remarkable track record, they will be watching from the sidelines as the Africa Football League unfolds.

The African Super League 2023, a one-week tournament, is scheduled to take place in Tanzania from October 21.

The quarterfinal draw was based on ranking, highlighting the importance of strong performance and consistent success in previous competitions.

Although Nigerian clubs missed out on the inaugural edition of the Africa Football League, this setback may ignite their determination to come back stronger and prove their worth in future tournaments.