Al Wahda head coach Pitso Mosimane has questioned how the newly formed African Football League affects the significance of the CAF Champions League.
The African Super League has become a reality after it was confirmed that it will start with eight teams this month, in a knockout format, with Mamelodi Sundowns the only Southern African side from the South-East Region, that includes Petro de Luanda, their quarter-final opponents and Tanzania's Simba.
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The prize money for the AFL has also been revealed as the winners are set to take home a staggering $4 million (+-R75 million).
The African Super League guarantees $1 million (+-R18, 8 million) for each quarter-finalist. The semi-finalists takes home $1,7 million and the runners-up will collect $3 million.
Mosimane says with such money being thrown into the tournament, how will that affect teams possibly prioritizing the AFL over the CAF Champions League and questioned why the Super League idea failed in Europe.
"They've got the Super Cup now that failed to happen in Europe. My question firstly, is why it failed in Europe? Two, I'm not saying because it failed in Europe it will fail in Africa," Mosimane said in an interview on Abu Dhabi Sports TV.
"We have to look at it positively, because it increases participation and it also increases the money side but also, which one is bigger now? Because if Super League has more money than (CAF) Champions League, so what do you focus on now? So is the (CAF) Champions League important now?
"Maybe we should give it a chance and see how it goes, you can never be afraid of good things. The only challenge for me, in my opinion, is which one is the priority? Is it Champions League or Super Cup? Because Super League gives more money," he said.
The multiple CAF Champions League winning coach also raised concerns with the fixture congestion and the logistics of travelling, which is in addition to an already tough situation in the CAF Champions League.
"Eight teams, it's not that big a schedule, because Africa has got the biggest schedule. When you are coaching Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, you're playing from the north to the south in the continent. The European Champions League in terms of logistics it's easy but the African Champions League is the most difficult, that's why not many people can win it," he added.
The African Football League is set to increase to 24 teams next season.
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