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2023 African Football League
The 2023 African Football League was the first edition of Africa's newest club football tournament, the African Football League, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This season was meant to be a precursor tournament to the full fledged version, which will start in the 2024–25 season, after being delayed a year. BackgroundThe competition, initially announced in 2022 as the Africa Super League, was to involve 24 teams divided into three geographical regions and have a promotion-relegation system. The competition was delayed from August to October 2023, renamed to the African Football League, and revised into an eight-team knockout format for its inaugural season. This season is meant to be a precursor, as the originally announced format will be introduced starting in 2024–25. ScheduleThe schedule was as follows.[1]
FormatEach tie was played over two legs, with each team playing one leg at home. The team that scored more goals on aggregate over the two legs advanced to the next round. If the aggregate score was level, the away goals rule was applied, i.e. the team that scored more goals away from home over the two legs advanced. If away goals were also equal, then extra time was not played and the winners were decided by a penalty shoot-out. TeamsThe African Football League involved 8 teams chosen by the CAF[how?] to enter the tournament. Location of teams of the 2023 African Football League
BracketThe bracket was decided after the draw for the knockout stage (quarter-finals, semi-finals and final), which was held on 2 September 2023, 16:00 GMT (19:00 local time, UTC+3), at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.[1]
Quarter-finalsThe first legs were played on 20, 21 and 22 October, and the second legs were played on 24 and 26 October 2023.[1]
3–3 on aggregate. Al Ahly won on away goals.
Espérance de Tunis won 3–1 on aggregate.
Wydad AC won 4–0 on aggregate.
Mamelodi Sundowns won 2–0 on aggregate. Semi-finalsThe first legs were played on 29 October, and the second legs were played on 1 November 2023.[1]
Mamelodi Sundowns won 1–0 on aggregate.
1–1 on aggregate. Wydad AC won 5–4 on penalties. FinalThe first leg was played on 5 November, and the second leg was played on 12 November 2023.[1]
Mamelodi Sundowns won 3–2 on aggregate. Top goalscorers Team eliminated / inactive for the round.
See alsoReferencesExternal links |
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