CAF president Patrice Motsepe has upped the ante for continental glory, announcing a massive increase in prize money for both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup winners for the 2025/26 season.
The announcement, made on Monday, marks a momentous financial shift under Motsepe’s leadership, aimed at making African club competitions competitive and providing much-needed relief to the continent’s elite sides.
The winner of the Champions League 2025/26 is set for a record-breaking windfall. The champion will now walk away with a mouth-watering $6 million [R101.1 million]. This represents a massive 50% increase from previous years.
Meanwhile, the victors of the Confederation Cup are set for an even bigger percentage jump. The prize money for the secondary continental tournament has been doubled to $4 million [R66.74 million]—a staggering 100% increase.
In a statement released by the governing body, CAF emphasised the vision of “improving club competitions and providing greater financial assistance to clubs” to ensure the game thrives at every level.
SUNDOWNS: THE LAST TEAM STANDING IN SOUTH AFRICA
The stakes have never been higher for South Africa’s remaining representative on the continent. Mamelodi Sundowns are currently the only PSL side still competing in the CAF inter-club competitions this season.
The Brazilians have booked their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals, where they are set to lock horns with Malian giants Stade Malien. With R101.1 million now on the line for the winner, the pressure and the rewards for Masandawana have reached fever pitch.
It has been a disappointing continental campaign for other South African giants. Orlando Pirates were eliminated early in the second preliminary rounds, while Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC both saw their dreams end in the group stages of the Confederation Cup.
THE ‘MOTSEPE EFFECT’: A 140% GROWTH
Since Motsepe took the reins five years ago, the financial rewards have skyrocketed. “In the five years of Dr Patrice Motsepe’s leadership of CAF, the prize money for the winner of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League has increased from $2.5 million to $6 million, a 140% increase,” reads the CAF statement.
The total prize money and solidarity pool for African clubs now exceeds $42 million (R736 million) per season, a monumental jump from the $18.8 million allocated back in 2021.
Meanwhile, in a move to assist smaller clubs, Motsepe also confirmed that teams eliminated in the preliminary stages will no longer go home empty-handed. These clubs will now receive $100,000 [R1.7 million] each—double what was offered just a year ago. This financial cushion has resulted in a record-breaking 130 clubs participating across both competitions this season.
And with the stakes higher than ever, the race to the finals is heating up as the continent’s premier clubs battle for the ultimate prize. The Confed Cup will be decided in a high-octane two-legged affair scheduled between 09 May and 16 May 2026, while the crowning moment of the Champions League will take place in a massive two-legged showdown on 15 May and 24 May 2026.
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