MBABANE – A new era for local elite and National First Division (NFD) clubs is on the horizon.
This follows developments suggesting that they could soon join a continent-wide body aimed at professionalising the sport. The African Club Association (ACA) has officially opened its membership registration to football clubs across all 54 Confederation of African Football (CAF) member nations, including Eswatini.
With registration now active, Premier League and First Division clubs in Eswatini can enrol, obtain an official ACA membership number and reportedly unlock the full suite of benefits designed to enhance club governance and development. Each club is required to pay an annual membership fee of E17 371, which equates to US$1 000 as per yesterday’s exchange rate.
The initiative is widely viewed as a strategic step in shaping the future of the sport on the continent, offering clubs a path towards improved sustainability, enhanced representation and shared development frameworks. The ACA has urged clubs to register early, positioning themselves at the heart of a growing movement aimed at building a more united and globally competitive African football ecosystem. so serves as President of Tanzanian giants Yanga, was quoted by BluePrint Newspapers’ official website as saying, this step marks a major stride towards unifying the continent’s professional teams under one structured and influential body.
“This launch marks a significant milestone towards professionalising African club football,” Said remarked, reaffirming the association’s commitment to improving governance, boosting commercial growth and securing clubs a stronger presence in global football discussions.
Notably, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe and ACA Chairman Said signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Cairo, Egypt, on March 11, 2025, according to CAF’s official website.
The ACA was launched in November 2023 with the support of Dr Motsepe, and recently announced it would be setting up offices at the world-class King Mohammed VI National Football Academy in Salé, Morocco.
CAF and the ACA share mutual aims that are crucial in growing club football on the continent. These purportedly include; protecting and developing a large and healthy professional football sector; investing in and promoting the training of young talented players in the long-term interest of football; and seeking to ensure players benefit from suitable education pathways throughout their sporting careers.
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