Saudi Arabia has been officially chosen as the host nation for the highly anticipated CAF Super Cup 2023. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) jointly made the historic announcement, sparking enthusiasm and anticipation across the global football community.
Scheduled for the 15th of September 2023, the Super Cup Final promises to be an electrifying clash, pitting the current champions of the CAF Champions League, Al Ahly SC, against the formidable champions of the CAF Confederation Cup, Algeria’s Union Sportive de la Médina d’Alger (USMA). The prestigious match is set to unfold at none other than the iconic King Fahd Stadium in the city of Taif.
CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba expressed his excitement, declaring, “We are excited to take the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup to a new territory in Saudi Arabia, a country that has been making significant strides in global football. African football ranks amongst the best in the world right now, and it’s fitting that, in an era where many international stars are heading to Saudi Arabia, African Football is also a part of this movement. On behalf of CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, I would like to thank the Saudi Arabia Football family for their cooperation, and we look forward to what will be an exciting TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup.”
Ibrahim Alkassim, SAFF General Secretary, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our collaboration with CAF to host this event exemplifies our commitment to partnering with CAF in event hosting and match organization in line with our existing partnership. This event marks yet another milestone in our ongoing collaboration. On behalf of SAFF President, Yasser Al Misehal, we thank CAF for this opportunity, and we look forward to a remarkable match for everyone involved.”
The decision to award Saudi Arabia the hosting rights for the Super Cup 2023 comes on the heels of a momentous five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked earlier this year between CAF and SAFF. This MoU signifies a commitment to fostering competition and nurturing growth opportunities for both African and Saudi football.
Under the ambit of this MoU, initiatives will focus on technical and football development at both club and national team levels, grassroots football, women’s football, talent identification, competitions, friendly matches, and commercial prospects.
CAF, the authoritative body governing Football in Africa, presides over 54 Member Associations and is the driving force behind the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, an event that captivates over 500 million viewers globally.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), established in 1956, stands as a proud member of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It serves as the governing body for football in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, overseeing grassroots development and all aspects of the amateur and professional game. Presently, SAFF administers 17 competitions, boasting over 600 teams spanning various age groups and flagship events like the King’s Cup and Saudi Super Cup.