Thrilling matches to kick off inaugural Africa Football League

Simba SC will play Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the first quarter final of the Africa Football League | Photo Credit: Courtesy

FOOTBALL Thrilling matches to kick off inaugural Africa Football League

Shafic Kiyaga 20:29 - 02.09.2023

The excitement starts on October 20, 2023, with the Opening Ceremony in Dar es Salam, Tanzania. The semi-finals are set for October 29 to November 1.

The anticipation is palpable as the inaugural Africa Football League (AFL) prepares to ignite the football world with a series of exhilarating matches.

The draw for the quarter-finals, held in the bustling heart of Cairo, has unveiled riveting match-ups that promise to set the stage for a spectacular football extravaganza.

Kicking off the quarter-finals is an electrifying clash between Tanzanian powerhouse Simba Sports Club and Egyptian giants Al-Ahly.

The Tanzanian club, buoyed by their four CAF Champions League quarter-final appearances, will test their mettle against Al-Ahly, who boast an awe-inspiring 11continental titles.

The first leg is scheduled to be played on October 20 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salam, Tanzania.

The return leg, to be played on October 24 in Egypt, will determine the team advancing to the coveted semi-finals.

Adding to the exhilaration, the second quarter-final match showcases a showdown between T.P Mazembe from DR Congo and Tunisian contenders, Esperance.

Mazembe will host the first leg on October 21, while Esperance will the host the return match on October 25. This will be a matchup between two very strong sides.

T.P Mazembe are the second most successful club in the CAF Champions League while the Tunisian giants have won the tournament four times.

The third quarter-final match will see Nigerian representatives Enyimba take on Moroccan side Waydad Casablanca on October 22. The return match will be played in Morocco on October 25.

Enyimba are the first Nigerian team to have won the CAF Champions League- a feat they achieved in 2003 and 2004. Waydad have won Africa’s most prestigious tournament three times.

Denis Onyango’s Mamelodi Sundowns meanwhile will face the test against Angola’s Petro de Luanda.

The first leg, scheduled for October 21 in Angola, will be followed by the return leg in South Africa on October 24.

The excitement starts on October 20, 2023, with the Opening Ceremony in Dar es Salam, Tanzania. The semi-finals are set for October 29 to November 1.

The grand finale, where we'll know the first AFL winner, takes place on November 5 and November 11, 2023.

This inaugural AFL season a sneak peek of the bigger league that will happen in the 2024/2025 football season as it will expand to a 22-team league.

Quarter-final 1-October 20: Simba v Al-Ahly October 24: Al-Ahly v Simba
Quarter-final 2-October 21: T.P Mazembe v Esperance. October 25: Esperance v T.P Mazembe. 
Quarter final 3: October 22: Enyimba v Waydad Casablanca. October 25: Waydad v Enyimba
Quarter-final 4: October 21: Petro Atletico du Luanda v Mamelodi Sundowns. October 24: Mamelodi Sundowns v Petro Atletico du Luanda. 

October 29 and November 1-semi-final 1 and Semi-final 2. 
November 5 and November 11-Final 1 and 2.