AFCON increases winning cup prize money of competition to $7 million
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has increased the prize money on offer for the winners of the Africa Cup of Nations to $7million (£5.5m).
The next edition of the tournament starts in just over a week on Saturday, January 13 when hosts Ivory Coast take on Guinea-Bissau.
Senegal won the previous edition, held in Cameroon two years ago, after beating Egypt on penalties in the final and were awarded $5m. Egypt received $2.5m for finishing second.
Ahead of the tournament getting underway, CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced the 40 per cent increase in prize money for the winners, with the runners-up earning $4m. The losing semi-finalists will receive $2.5m each and the four quarter-finalists who get eliminated will take home $1.3m.
“CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the prize money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions,” Motsepe said in a statement.
“We have increased the prize money of the AFCON winner to $7m which is a 40 per cent increase from the previous AFCON prize money. I am confident that a portion of the prize money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our Member Associations with their administrations.”
By comparison, the winner of this summer’s UEFA European Championship will receive a payment of €8m (£6.9m, $8.8m). However, when you factor the €9.25m participation fee into account and other match bonuses, the total amount the winners of the Euros could receive is €28.25m.
In a press conference last month, CAF’s general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba revealed that as part of the tournament’s legacy, 20 per cent of the revenue generated would be allocated to the Ivorian Football Federation for the development of infrastructure.
