The Confederation African Football (CAF) has announced the partnership with the government of Rwanda to bolster the growth of African Football and Tourism.
The partnership aims to develop African football and tourism through the new African Football League (AFL) which will feature the best football clubs on the continent.
The League will attract teams from every region in Africa competing for a title every year with the inaugural edition officially opening Saturday, October 20, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Participating teams for this year’s competition include Egyptian giants Al Ahly, Wydad AC (Morocco), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Enyimba (Nigeria), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), ATL. Petro Luanda (Angola) and Simba FC from Tanzania
The eight clubs were selected based on their current CAF rankings.
As a founding partner of the league, "Visit Rwanda” branding will be visible on the sleeves of player jerseys, in stadiums during games, in partner workshops, and events, broadcast and online media channels as well as websites.
In addition, AFL will work with Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports and the football governing body (FERWAFA) on youth football development initiatives, including developing a local youth league.
Through the partnership, national carrier, RwandAir, will be an airline partner of the league and will transport participating teams to countries that are among its routes.
CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba said, "the partnership with "Visit Rwanda” is a great milestone. I am pleased to announce our exciting partnership with a nation that epitomizes the spirit of African football’s growth and potential.”
"Together, we will unlock new horizons for the beautiful game on our continent, showcasing its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and the passion of our fans. We can’t wait to embark on this incredible journey together with ‘Visit Rwanda’.”
ALSO READ: Kigali to host African Super League headquarters
In a similar vein Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Francis Gatare, welcomed the partnership which he believes will not only boost the country’s tourism but also have an impact on various sports development initiatives locally and on the continent at large.
"We’re excited to announce yet another partnership for the development and promotion of sports in Rwanda. This falls in line with our objectives of contributing to developing African talent and using football for economic development in our continent.”
"Through this partnership, we aim to showcase the new Rwanda to over 1 billion audiences that will be watching the annual league, and to ensure that our young players, coaches, sports operators, and private sector are supported across the entire ecosystem,” he added
On her side, Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, said the new partnership will open doors to African talents and give them an opportunity to show what they can offer to the world of football.
"Sports is a great unifier for our continent and a partnership such as this with the African Football League, is a rare opportunity for young football talents and local leagues in Africa,” Munyangaju said.
"We look forward to having more Rwandans showcase their footballing talent on this platform that reaches millions of global audiences and highlights Africa as a football powerhouse,” she added.
ALSO READ: Can the African Super League make giant strides?
The African Football League (AFL) is a prestigious annual continental club football competition that serves as a celebration of football excellence and camaraderie across the African continent. Founded with the vision of enhancing the quality of football in Africa and fostering financial growth for participating clubs and stakeholders.