African football is at risk of falling behind on the global stage if the current status quo remains.
This season’s CAF Champions League knockout phase has been average at best, and at times downright boring. Last Saturday’s 1-1 draw in the final of the first leg between Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC at Loftus Versfeld was a perfect example of a match that didn’t live up to the hype.
It was a damp squib that promised fireworks and delivered a flicker. It has further ignited an uncomfortable conversation that African football can no longer afford to ignore.
ALSO READ: Chiefs-linked striker inks new long term deal with Richards Bay
In today’s world of endless entertainment options, African football can’t afford to be stagnant. The strategies and structures that worked decades ago might no longer be relevant because the game has evolved, and so must we. African football is at risk of falling behind on the global stage if the current status quo remains.
UEFA recognised this reality in 2021 when it scrapped the away goals rule in its club competitions. Since then, the champions league has become a spectacle in the knockout rounds. Teams no longer play with the handbrake on, fearful of conceding a goal at home.
Instead, matches have become open, entertaining and filled with goals. Just this season, the competition has produced 47 goals from the quarter-finals to the semi-finals across 12 games, with none of the games ending goalless.
By comparison, a meagre 18 goals were scored in the same period of Africa’s elite club competition. The first legs of both semi-finals ended goalless. There were two other stalemates in the quarter-finals.
These numbers are more than just statistics, they are a reflection of what fans are being served. The current format in CAF encourages a conservative, often cynical brand of football. Teams are more interested in protecting slim leads and playing the numbers game rather than entertaining their fans or showcasing their full attacking potential.
We’ve reached a point where defensive tactics are praised, not out of admiration, but because we’ve normalised low-risk football. I’ve covered CAF football for years, and while the tournament remains one of the most magical in the world, I can’t ignore the concerning dip in quality and spectacle during the knockout stages.
Sundowns and Pyramids FC now have one game to change the narrative, but don’t hold your breath as Pyramids are likely to protect their slim advantage. They will waste time, play on the counter and this is because of a rule that prioritises caution over entertainment.
Goals bring excitement and they help sell the sport to the younger audience. They should know about Teboho Mokoena just as much as they admire Jude Bellingham, but I have younger relatives that would rather watch Real Madrid play than continental football.
ALSO READ: Chelsea aim higher after Conference League triumph
The away goals rule may have had its time, but that time might be up. If CAF wants to remain relevant and exciting, it’s time to embrace bold change because the football we are watching now just isn’t good enough.
