African club competitions struggle

The promise of increased prize money has failed to stimulate interest in Africa's annual club competitions, with almost 20 percent of potential entrants staying out of next year's events.

Ten African countries have failed to submit entrants for next year's new African Confederation Cup, which is an amalgamation of the old African Cup Winners' and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup, and the African Champions League.


CAF had been hoping for a full quota of teams for both competitions following changes in their formats.


The Champions League has been expanded to 64 teams to allow major countries to have a second representative, while the new Confederation Cup offers clubs the opportunity to participate in a league format in the latter stages. The last eight clubs will earn a share of projected revenue from television and marketing revenue.


The Champions League offers around $3.5 million in revenue to the clubs, including $1 million for the winners.

A lack of earning potential in African football had been blamed for dwindling interest over the years in continental club competition, particularly from smaller countries whose governments do not provide financial assistance for clubs.


The draw for next year's event will be without teams from Botswana, Burundi, the Cape Verde Islands, Chad, Djibouti, the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sao Tome e Principe, Sierra Leone and Swaziland.


Algeria has failed to take up an offer to have two entrants in each of the Champions League and Confederations Cup, entering only one club in each. Egypt has also only taken up two of their four berths.


CAF president Issa Hayatou initiated the changes last year in a shake up of African football that followed his embarrassing defeat in an attempt to win the Fifa presidency, where the majority of African members voted against him in favour of the incumbent Sepp Blatter.