Alex Song: “Unpredictable groups are a reflection of the growth of African club football”
Former FC Indomitable Lions midfielder Alexandre Song has praised the continued rise and competitiveness of African club football following the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup group stage draws held in Johannesburg on Monday.
Song, who served as one of CAF’s draw assistants, said he was pleased with how the groups turned out, describing the draw as a reflection of the progress made across African football.
“I think it’s a very good and balanced draw,” Song said. “You can see that in both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup, every team has a real chance. African football is growing fast, and the gap between so-called big and small teams is closing. The tough and unpredictable groups are a true reflection of the growth of African club football”, said Song.
He added that recent performances by emerging nations on the international stage highlight this steady development.
“Just look at what’s happening in African football today. Teams like Cape Verde and others are showing that there are no small sides anymore. Everyone is improving, everyone is competing at a higher level. The clubs that prepare well and show the right mentality can go all the way in these tournaments,” he noted.
While Song celebrated the continent’s progress, he also expressed his wish of seeing more Cameroonians clubs at these stages of the competition
“Of course, I wish we had a Cameroonian team here,” he admitted. “We came very close — we drew at home and again in Algeria — but we’ll learn from it. Hopefully next year we’ll come back stronger and be part of this great tournament, which is one of the best in Africa.”
Song concluded by emphasising that the growing competitiveness across the continent is a sign of a healthy and evolving football landscape.
“African club football has made huge strides. You can feel the passion, the professionalism, and the ambition everywhere. It’s an exciting time for the game in Africa. We have the AFCON taking place very soon and if the last AFCON is anything to go by, the world can expect another exciting spectacle”, concluded Song.