It is the beginning of a new chapter in African club football, but the gladiators in the African Football League, which is debuting this weekend, are familiar figures, who have dominated the continental game over the years.
The African Football League (AFL), which kicked off on Friday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is featuring the continent’s eight biggest clubs across the regions in different centres.
On Friday, Tanzania’s Simba Sports were held to a 2-2 draw by record African champions, Al Ahly of Egypt, in the first ever game of the competition at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar-es-Salaam.
Reda Slim scored the opening goal for the visitors in 45+1 minute of the first half before Kibu Denis drew level for Simba in the 53rd minute. Sadio Kanouté put the hosts in front 2-1 five minutes later before Mahmoud Kahraba pulled level for Al Ahly 2-2 in the 63rd minute to give the Egyptian giants a comfortable result heading into the reverse fixture.
The second leg will hold on October 24 at the Cairo International Stadium, Egypt, with the eventual winners over both legs advancing to the semifinals of the competition.
Two-time African champions and Nigeria’s representative in the competition, Enyimba of Aba, will begin their own journey in the competition today at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. Their opponents are another former African champions, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, who are also looking to be among the first semifinalists in the contest.
The Moroccans arrived in Uyo on Friday by the club’s private jet and immediately set out to prepare for the first leg of the tie.
Enyimba forward Joseph Atule has reiterated the team’s desire to record a big win against Moroccan side, Wydad Athletic Club.
Looking forward to a fruitful outing in his first international club championship, Enyimba forward, Joseph Atule, said the Peoples Elephant have been dreaming of this day to show that they are still a force to reckon with in African football.
Atule, who moved to Aba from Lobi Stars, said: “We are not just going to win, we are going to win in a big way to put smiles on the faces of our fans.”
He enjoined Nigerian football fans to troop to Uyo to support Enyimba, saying their performance in this edition would count very much in the rating of the country’s club football.
He added that Enyimba are in high spirits after getting their first three points in the 2023/24 season in the game against Akwa United, which ended 3-2.
Also speaking on the game, Enyimba’s striker, Eze Happy Ekwutoziam, said they are not intimidated by the Moroccans’ pedigree, adding that they have worked hard in training to face whatever the North Africans bring to Uyo.
“A lot is expected from us, knowing how strong Wydad AC is. They are one of the biggest clubs in Africa, but we are not under pressure.
“We have been working hard, keeping shape and working on our strategies on how to eliminate them. A lot is expected from us not just from our fans, but Nigerians and our fans across West Africa. We are not going to let them down.”
The highly anticipated encounter will kick-off at 6pm Nigeria time.
The reverse fixture is slated for Casablanca on Wednesday.
In other quarterfinals of the African Football League, Petro de Luanda of Angola hosted Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa yesterday, while TP Mazembe of Congo are playing against Etolie Sportiv du Tunis today.
The winner of the Simba/Al Ahly will meet the winner of the Petro de Luanda/Mamelodi Sundowns’ game in the first semifinals. Also, the winner of the Enyimba versus Wydad Casablanca game will face the victor in the ES Tunis/TP Mazembe tie in the other semifinal.
The final game will be on a home and away basis with the winners of the two semifinals meeting first on November 5, with the decisive leg holding on
November 11.
