Africa’s football governing body, Confederation of African Football (CAF), has disclosed its desire to increase the prize money for the winner for the 33rd edition of its flagship competition, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, revealed this on Tuesday night at Yaounde, Cameroon during the draws for the 2021 AFCON. The President also confirmed that players of the country that wins the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will receive separate prize money from that of the country.
Motsepe said, “We want to increase the prize money and we are in discussions with sponsors because we have to show the world that African football is as good and amongst the best in the world.
“One of the things we want to do is to provide on top of the prize money which will be won by the winning nation, is to put aside prize money so that the nation that wins the AFCON next year, there is prize money that will go to the players so that we’ll not experience the problems we’ve had in the past.
“Players are demotivated when they qualify because they don’t know how much they will earn by way of bonuses. We are working on those things.”
In the 2019 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations at Egypt, CAF shared a total of $14.2 million amongst the best eight teams at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in the form of prize money, according to Bestchoicesports.
Winner – $4.5million
Runners-up – $2.5million
Third place – $2million
Fourth place – $2million
Quarter finalists – $3.2million ( $800,000 for four teams)
When is AFCON starting?
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which is in its 33rd edition is scheduled to run from the 9th of January till the 6th of February.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria is seeded in Group D with the likes of Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau. The Super Eagles will play their first match against Egypt on the 11th of January.
