2023 African Football League#Quarter-finals

The competition, initially announced in 2022 as the Africa Super League, was to involve 24 teams divided into three geographical regions and have a promotion-relegation system. The competition was delayed from August to October 2023, renamed to the African Football League, and revised into an eight-team knockout format for its inaugural season. This season was meant to be a precursor, as the originally announced format was supposed to be introduced starting in 2024–25, though this was later cancelled.

The schedule was as follows.{{cite news|url=https://www.cafonline.com/news/the-inaugural-african-football-league-afl-kicks-off-in-october-2023-and-will-be-preceded-by-official-draw-on-saturday-2-september-2023/ |title=The inaugural African Football League (AFL) kicks off in October 2023 and will be preceded by official draw on Saturday 2 September 2023 |language=en |website=Confederation of African Football |date=29 August 2023}}

Each tie was played over two legs, with each team playing one leg at home. The team that scored more goals on aggregate over the two legs advanced to the next round. If the aggregate score was level, the away goals rule was applied, i.e. the team that scored more goals away from home over the two legs advanced. If away goals were also equal, then extra time was not played and the winners were decided by a penalty shoot-out.

The African Football League involved 8 teams chosen by the CAF{{how?|date=September 2024}} to enter the tournament.

{{Location map+ |Africa |width=600 |float=right |caption=Location of teams of the 2023 African Football League

|places=

{{Location map~|Africa|lat=-8.83833|long=13.23444|label_size=80|label=Petro de Luanda|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Africa|lat=-11.664167|long=27.482778|label_size=80|label=TP Mazembe|mark=Green pog.svg|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Africa|lat=30.04458|long=31.245587|label_size=80|label=Al Ahly|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Africa|lat=5.116667|long=7.366667|label_size=80|label=Enyimba|mark=Green pog.svg|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Africa|lat=33.578456|long=-7.606636|label_size=80|label=Wydad AC|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Africa|lat=-25.745|long=28.190278|label_size=80|label=Mamelodi Sundowns|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Africa|lat=-6.8992|long=39.7101|label_size=80|label=Simba|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Africa|lat=36.839859|long=10.185249|label_size=80|label=Espérance de Tunis|mark=Green pog.svg|position=bottom}}

}}

{{-}}

The bracket was decided after the draw for the knockout stage (quarter-finals, semi-finals and final), which was held on 2 September 2023, 16:00 GMT (19:00 local time, UTC+3), at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

{{8TeamBracket-2Leg|noseeds=y

| team-width = 220

| RD1 = Quarter-finals

| RD2 = Semi-finals

| RD3 = Final

| RD1-team1 = {{fbaicon|NGA}} Enyimba

| RD1-score1-1 = 0

| RD1-score1-2 = 0

| RD1-score1-agg = 0

| RD1-team2 = {{fbaicon|MAR}} Wydad AC

| RD1-score2-1 = 1

| RD1-score2-2 = 3

| RD1-score2-agg = 4

| RD1-team3 = {{fbaicon|COD}} TP Mazembe

| RD1-score3-1 = 1

| RD1-score3-2 = 0

| RD1-score3-agg = 1

| RD1-team4 = {{fbaicon|TUN}} Espérance de Tunis

| RD1-score4-1 = 0

| RD1-score4-2 = 3

| RD1-score4-agg = 3

| RD1-team5 = {{fbaicon|ANG}} Petro de Luanda

| RD1-score5-1 = 0

| RD1-score5-2 = 0

| RD1-score5-agg = 0

| RD1-team6 = {{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns

| RD1-score6-1 = 2

| RD1-score6-2 = 0

| RD1-score6-agg = 2

| RD1-team7 = {{fbaicon|TAN}} Simba

| RD1-score7-1 = 2

| RD1-score7-2 = 1

| RD1-score7-agg = 3

| RD1-team8 = {{fbaicon|EGY}} Al Ahly (a)

| RD1-score8-1 = 2

| RD1-score8-2 = 1

| RD1-score8-agg = 3

| RD2-team1 = {{fbaicon|MAR}} Wydad AC {{pso}}

| RD2-score1-1 = 1

| RD2-score1-2 = 0

| RD2-score1-agg = {{nowrap|1 (5)}}

| RD2-team2 = {{fbaicon|TUN}} Espérance de Tunis

| RD2-score2-1 = 0

| RD2-score2-2 = 1

| RD2-score2-agg = {{nowrap|1 (4)}}

| RD2-team3 = {{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns

| RD2-score3-1 = 1

| RD2-score3-2 = 0

| RD2-score3-agg = 1

| RD2-team4 = {{fbaicon|EGY}} Al Ahly

| RD2-score4-1 = 0

| RD2-score4-2 = 0

| RD2-score4-agg = 0

| RD3-team1 = {{fbaicon|MAR}} Wydad AC

| RD3-score1-1 = 2

| RD3-score1-2 = 0

| RD3-score1-agg = 2

| RD3-team2 = {{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns

| RD3-score2-1 = 1

| RD3-score2-2 = 2

| RD3-score2-agg = 3

}}

The first legs were played on 20, 21 and 22 October, and the second legs were played on 24 and 26 October 2023.

{{TwoLegStart}}

{{TwoLegResult|Simba|TAN|3–3 (a)|Al Ahly|EGY|2–2|1–1}}

{{TwoLegResult|TP Mazembe|COD|1–3|Espérance de Tunis|TUN|1–0|0–3}}

{{TwoLegResult|Enyimba|NGA|0–4|Wydad AC|MAR|0–1|0–3}}

{{TwoLegResult|Petro de Luanda|ANG|0–2|Mamelodi Sundowns|RSA|0–2|0–0}}

|}

{{Football box

|id = Simba v Al Ahly

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|20|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|18:00|3}}

|team1 = Simba {{fbaicon|TAN}}

|score = 2–2

|team2 = {{fbaicon|EGY}} Al Ahly

|goals1 =

• Denis {{goal|53}}
• Kanouté {{goal|59}}

|goals2 =

• Slim {{goal|45+1}}
• Kahraba {{goal|63}}

|stadium = Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam

|attendance = 60,000

|referee = Dahane Beida (Mauritania)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2410731

}}

{{Football box

|id = Al Ahly v Simba

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|24|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|17:00|3}}

|team1 = Al Ahly {{fbaicon|EGY}}

|score = 1–1

|team2 = {{fbaicon|TAN}} Simba

|goals1 =

• Kahraba {{goal|76}}

|goals2 =

• Kanouté {{goal|68}}

|stadium = Cairo International Stadium, Cairo

|attendance = 30,000

|referee = Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2410735

}}

3–3 on aggregate. Al Ahly won on away goals.

----

{{Football box

|id = TP Mazembe v Espérance de Tunis

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|22|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|18:00|3}}

|team1 = TP Mazembe {{fbaicon|COD}}

|score = 1–0

|team2 = {{fbaicon|TUN}} Espérance de Tunis

|goals1 =

• Fofana {{goal|11}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)

|attendance = 40,000

|referee = Mahmood Ismail (Sudan)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2410732

}}

{{Football box

|id = Espérance de Tunis v TP Mazembe

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|26|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|16:00|1}}

|team1 = Espérance de Tunis {{fbaicon|TUN}}

|score = 3–0

|team2 = {{fbaicon|COD}} TP Mazembe

|goals1 =

• Ouahabi {{goal|45}}
• Bouguerra {{goal|76}}
• Tougai {{goal|86}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Stade Hammadi Agrebi, Tunis

|attendance = 40,000

|referee = Abongile Tom (South Africa)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2410737

}}

Espérance de Tunis won 3–1 on aggregate.

----

{{Football box

|id = Enyimba v Wydad AC

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|22|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|19:00|1}}

|team1 = Enyimba {{fbaicon|NGA}}

|score = 0–1

|team2 = {{fbaicon|MAR}} Wydad AC

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

• Jabrane {{goal|39|pen.}}

|stadium = Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo

|attendance = 5,000

|referee = Alhadi Allaou Mahamat (Chad)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2410734

}}

{{Football box

|id = Wydad AC v Enyimba

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|26|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|19:00|1}}

|team1 = Wydad AC {{fbaicon|MAR}}

|score = 3–0

|team2 = {{fbaicon|NGA}} Enyimba

|goals1 =

• El Amloud {{goal|4}}
• Harkass {{goal|38}}
• Attiyat Allah {{goal|43}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca

|attendance = 45,000

|referee = Pierre Atcho (Gabon)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2410738

}}

Wydad AC won 4–0 on aggregate.

----

{{Football box

|id = Petro de Luanda v Mamelodi Sundowns

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|21|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|16:30|1}}

|team1 = Petro de Luanda {{fbaicon|ANG}}

|score = 0–2

|team2 = {{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

• Allende {{goal|67}}
• Maseko {{goal|80}}

|stadium = Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda

|attendance = 42,000

|referee = Ibrahim Mutaz (Libya)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2410733

}}

{{Football box

|id = Mamelodi Sundowns v Petro de Luanda

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|24|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|19:00|2}}

|team1 = Mamelodi Sundowns {{fbaicon|RSA}}

|score = 0–0

|team2 = {{fbaicon|ANG}} Petro de Luanda

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

|attendance = 25,000

|referee = Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2410736

}}

Mamelodi Sundowns won 2–0 on aggregate.

The first legs were played on 29 October, and the second legs were played on 1 November 2023.

{{TwoLegStart}}

{{TwoLegResult|Mamelodi Sundowns|RSA|1–0|Al Ahly|EGY|1–0|0–0}}

{{TwoLegResult|Wydad AC|MAR|1–1 {{pso|5–4}}|Espérance de Tunis|TUN|1–0|0–1}}

|}

{{Football box

|id = Mamelodi Sundowns v Al Ahly

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|29|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|15:00|2}}

|team1 = Mamelodi Sundowns {{fbaicon|RSA}}

|score = 1–0

|team2 = {{fbaicon|EGY}} Al Ahly

|goals1 =

• Maseko {{goal|52}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

|attendance = 30,000

|referee = Djindo Louis Houngnandande (Benin)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2412649

}}

{{Football box

|id = Al Ahly v Mamelodi Sundowns

|date = {{Start date|2023|11|1|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|20:00|2}}

|team1 = Al Ahly {{fbaicon|EGY}}

|score = 0–0

|team2 = {{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Cairo International Stadium, Cairo

|attendance = 50,000

|referee = Issa Sy (Senegal)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2412648

}}

Mamelodi Sundowns won 1–0 on aggregate.

----

{{Football box

|id = Wydad AC v Espérance de Tunis

|date = {{Start date|2023|10|29|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|19:00|1}}

|team1 = Wydad AC {{fbaicon|MAR}}

|score = 1–0

|team2 = {{fbaicon|TUN}} Espérance de Tunis

|goals1 =

• Boussefiane {{goal|58}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca

|attendance = 45,000

|referee = Amin Omar (Egypt)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2412792

}}

{{Football box

|id = Espérance de Tunis v Wydad AC

|date = {{Start date|2023|11|1|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|16:00|1}}

|team1 = Espérance de Tunis {{fbaicon|TUN}}

|score = 1–0

|penaltyscore = 4–5

|team2 = {{fbaicon|MAR}} Wydad AC

|goals1 =

• Rodrigues {{goal|66}}

|goals2 =

|penalties1 =

• Meriah {{pengoal}}
• Rodrigues {{penmiss}}
• Derbali {{pengoal}}
• Bouchniba {{pengoal}}
• Tougai {{pengoal}}

|penalties2 =

• {{pengoal}} Jabrane
• {{pengoal}} El Amloud
• {{pengoal}} Aboulfath
• {{pengoal}} Ounajem
• {{pengoal}} Sambou

|stadium = Stade Hammadi Agrebi, Tunis

|attendance = 40,000

|referee = Peter Waweru (Kenya)

|report = https://afl.africa/match/?competition=1235&season=2023&match=2412793

}}

1–1 on aggregate. Wydad AC won 5–4 on penalties.

{{main|2023 African Football League final}}

The first leg was played on 5 November, and the second leg was played on 12 November 2023.

{{TwoLegStart}}

{{TwoLegResult|Wydad AC|MAR|2–3|Mamelodi Sundowns|RSA|2–1|0–2}}

|}

{{#lst:2023 African Football League final}}

Mamelodi Sundowns won 3–2 on aggregate.

{{smalldiv|{{legend|silver|Team eliminated / inactive for the round.}}}}

• 2023–24 CAF Champions League
• 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup
• 2023 CAF Women's Champions League

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.cafonline.com/ CAFonline.com]
• [https://afl.africa/ African Football League – AFL]

{{African Football League}}

{{2023–24 in African football (CAF)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:African Football League 2023}}

Category:October 2023 sports events in Africa

Category:November 2023 sports events in Africa

Category:2023 in African football