While the global game prepares to meet the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, excitement—and potential—simmering among African football are building.
Local fans have watched their continent’s top clubs thrill on the home front but, to a great extent, fall short overseas. All of that may now be about to change.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has referred to the new format, which consists of 32 clubs from around the globe, as “a game-changer for global club football.”
Talking about the unveiling of the tournament expansion, Infantino stated, “We want to make football really global. African players and clubs have the quality, but now they will also have the stage.”.
That platform is increasingly in sight. This season’s CAF Champions League has offered a glimpse of what the best Africa can provide the world stage.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly SC continued their continental dominance, advancing to the semi-finals after orchestrating a 2-0 aggregate win over Sudanese Al Hilal Club.
A 1-0 victory in Nouakchott last Tuesday sealed it, having repeated the same scoreline in the first leg.
In Tunisia, South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns tested their metal.
A 0-0 draw against Esperance Sportive de Tunis at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Radès was enough to land them a place in the last four, having followed that up with a close 1-0 victory at home in the first leg.
The Brazilians of South Africa now wait for title winners Al Ahly in what appears to be a heavyweight semi-final clash.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the draw, Orlando Pirates and Pyramids FC meet in a struggle for a final place—two teams eager to cement their place among Africa’s best.
At the same time, Wydad Athletic Club, maybe Morocco’s vintage established teams, are out of continental competition entirely this season following failure to qualify for the 2024–25 edition
The absence of Wydad is a reminder of the feverish competitiveness of club football on the continent. It is the same level of intensity that FIFA is eager to bring to the global scene.
For African clubs, the competition is more than prestige. It’s a ticket to better infrastructure, further sponsorship, and global fan bases.
More significantly, though, it’s a chance to finally compete—not just participate—on an equal footing with Europe’s and South America’s behemoths.
Whether or not the continent’s representatives will rise to the occasion is yet to be known. But one thing is certain: for African football, the way to the summit has never been nearer.
