Ahead of the AFCON 2025 kick-off, CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe has announced a record-breaking US$10 million [R167 million] prize for the tournament winners, a significant increase from the US$7 million [R117 million] awarded in 2023.
Following a CAF Executive Committee meeting held earlier on Saturday, Africa’s football governing body agreed to further increase the prize money for its flagship competition.
Addressing the media from the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Motsepe emphasised the growth of African football. Action kicks off this Sunday as hosts Morocco face Comoros in the opening match.
MOTSEPE CONFIRMS AFCON PRIZE MONEY INCREASE
“It was less than US$5 million [before the 2023 edition], and we increased it to US$7 million. So, if you win, you’ll get $10 million, and that’s the key objective as we move forward,” Motsepe stated, stressing his administration’s commitment to the financial self-sustainability of African football. “We will continue to increase the prize money for the most important competition in Africa.”
Ivory Coast enters the 2025 AFCON as the defending champions, but all eyes are now on Morocco. The tournament is set to get underway tomorrow, Sunday, December 21, when the host nation faces Comoros in the opening match.
The financial windfall is not limited to national teams. Motsepe also confirmed that interclub competitions – the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup will see substantial increases in their prize pools.
However, he would not reveal the amounts, saying the new prizes will be revealed in the new year for the official breakdown.
“We’ve also taken decisions to significantly increase the Champions League and the Confederation Cup, but we’re not going to announce them today,” Motsepe added. “I wanted to announce them, but you know, I have to listen to the smart people around me.”
Both competitions resume in 2026 after the AFCON tournament.
Meanwhile, the CAF boss also revealed that the AFCON will move to a four-year cycle. After AFCON 2027 in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, the continental competition will be held in 2028, 2032, and 2036.
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