It is now official: the host country for the upcoming African Super Cup has been confirmed. The prestigious clash, which will see CAF Champions League winners Espérance de Tunis face CAF Confederation Cup holders Zamalek, will take place in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
The decision was made by the Confederation of African Football during a meeting held on Thursday morning in Cairo. Following discussions among the governing body’s officials, Doha was selected as the venue for the encounter, which has been scheduled for February 14. The choice continues CAF’s recent trend of staging major continental fixtures outside Africa, with Qatar increasingly positioning itself as a key partner in hosting high-profile football events.
The African Super Cup traditionally brings together the winners of the continent’s two main club competitions, making it one of the most anticipated fixtures on the African football calendar. This year’s edition promises to be particularly competitive, with Tunisian giants Espérance de Tunis looking to add another trophy to their collection and Egyptian powerhouse Zamalek aiming to assert their continental pedigree. Both clubs boast strong fan bases and rich histories, which should add further excitement to the showdown.
However, the announcement of Qatar as the host nation may spark controversy, particularly from the Egyptian side. Zamalek president Mortada Mansour has previously voiced strong opposition to the idea of playing the match in Doha. In recent statements, he openly threatened to boycott the game if it were staged in Qatar, insisting that he would refuse to send his team there under any circumstances. His remarks suggested that he would rather face sporting consequences than participate in a fixture held in the Gulf state.
“I will not send my team to Qatar. I will not play there even if it costs me relegation to the second division,” Mansour reportedly declared, underlining the firmness of his position. His reaction is closely tied to the broader political context, as diplomatic relations between Egypt and Qatar have been severed since 2017. This strained relationship has added a political dimension to what would otherwise be a purely sporting event.
Despite the tensions, CAF’s decision appears final, leaving Zamalek with a difficult choice. The club must now weigh the importance of competing for a continental title against the stance taken by its outspoken president. For Espérance de Tunis, meanwhile, the focus remains on preparation and the opportunity to claim another piece of silverware on neutral ground.
As the match date approaches, attention will not only be on the action on the pitch but also on how Zamalek respond to the situation. Whether the Egyptian club ultimately travels to Doha or maintains its threat of a boycott remains uncertain. One thing is clear: the 2020 African Super Cup is already surrounded by intrigue, with both sporting ambition and political tensions shaping the narrative ahead of kickoff.
