The Confederation of African Football selected eight African heavyweights that will participate in the precursor knockout tournament that will precede the 2024–25 African Football League (AFL).
Set to run from October 20th to November 11th, this year’s tournament will only consist of two-legged quarterfinal, semifinal, and final matches. It is the 2024–25 season that will feature the original 24-team format with a promotion and relegation system.
Representing the North African sub-continent in the 2023 AFL is the successful trio of Wydad AC, Espérance de Tunis, and Al Ahly SC. Nigeria’s Enyimba and Angola’s Petro de Luanda also made the cut.
TP Mazembe, Simba SC, and Mamelodi Sundowns will also be gracing the competition this year.
No Zambian team will be participating in the tournament, which comes as no surprise given the domestic league’s drop to 15th place in the CAF association rankings.
However, the 2023 AFL will not be shy of Zambian players.
Bolanews reveals the list of Zambian footballers who will be taking part in the inaugural 2023 African Football League.
1. Clatous Chota Chama (Simba SC)
Simba SC is set to clash with Africa’s most decorated club, Al Ahly SC, in the African Football League. Hence, the club will be counting on Clatous Chama to unleash a masterclass, as he did in last month’s CAF Champions League qualifier in Zambia. The Chipolopolo star scored a clutch brace in a 2-2 draw with Zambian champions Power Dynamos.
2. Alex Ngonga (TP Mazembe)
Ngonga was the shining light in TP Mazembe’s underwhelming 2022–23 CAF Confederations Cup, where they finished bottom of Group D with only three points. The Zambian striker was the club’s top scorer in the competition, despite only scoring twice. Ngonga and TP Mazembe now face the daunting task of Espérance de Tunis in the 2023 AFL quarterfinals.
3. Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe)
The center-back is set to be the only Chipolopolo defender taking part in the African Football League. Mwape will be looking forward to battling the best forwards on the continent in the blockbuster competition. However, the defender is unavailable for the opening fixture against Espérance de Tunis on Sunday.
4. Moses Phiri (Simba SC)
The 2020–21 Zambian Super League Golden Boot winner will be looking forward to being the first Zambian to score a goal in the African Football League. Less than a fortnight ago, Phiri was on target for Simba as he fired in the winner in a 2-1 victory over Tanzanian Prisons in the Premier League.
