The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, has announced a landmark increase in prize money for the continent’s premier club competitions.
Starting with the 2025/26 season, the winners of the CAF Champions League will now take home a staggering USD 6 Million (Ksh 774 M) representing a 50% increase from the previous season.
The CAF Confederation Cup has seen an even bigger shift, with the winner’s prize doubling from USD 2 Million to USD 4 Million (Ksh 516M).
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CAF announces increase in prize money for Champions League & Confederation Cup
Dr Motsepe’s leadership since 2021 has seen the football reshaped to ensure competitiveness. Total prize money and solidarity payments have surged to over USD 42 Million (Ksh 5.2 B) per season, which marks a 114% increase from the USD 18.8 Million(Ksh 2.4B )allocated just five years ago.
This growth is part of a broader strategy to provide greater financial assistance to clubs across the continent, ensuring that participation in elite competitions is both prestigious and economically sustainable.
In a move to support clubs from the ground up, CAF has also significantly bolstered its solidarity payments for teams exiting in the early rounds. From the 2025/26 season, clubs eliminated in the preliminary stages will now receive USD 100,000 each,a doubling of the support provided only a year ago.
This financial cushion has directly contributed to a record-breaking 130 clubs participating across both competitions this season, as more teams now find the continental stage economically viable regardless of how far they progress.
The CAF Confederation Cup finals are scheduled to take place between 09 May and 16 May 2026, while the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League finals will follow shortly after on 15 May and 24 May 2026.
The pursuit for the new prize money has been narrowed down to the final eight contenders in both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup following conclusion of the group stage.
In the Champions League, record 12-time winners Al Ahly are set for a North African showdown against four-time champions Espérance de Tunis, while South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns face a. challenge from Mali’s Stade Malien.
On the other side of the bracket, defending champions Pyramids FC are pitted against Morocco’s AS FAR, while RS Berkane will look to carry their continental pedigree into a clash against Sudan’s Al Hilal.
Simultaneously, the CAF Confederation Cup features an all-Moroccan quarter-final between Wydad AC and Olympic Club Safi.
Egyptian giants Zamalek SC remain favorites as they prepare to take on Congolese side AS Otohô, while their compatriots Al Masry SC face Algeria’s CR Belouizdad. Rounding out the last eight is an encounter between DR Congo’s Maniema Union and Algeria’s USM Alger.
