The Confederation of African Football has announced a major increase in prize money for its two premier club competitions, giving teams across the continent a significant financial boost.
In a statement released on Monday, CAF confirmed that the winners of the CAF Champions League for the 2025/26 season will now receive $6 million, an increase from the $4 million awarded last season.
Similarly, the champions of the CAF Confederation Cup—often regarded as Africa’s equivalent of the UEFA Europa League—will take home $4 million, representing a 50 percent rise compared to last year’s prize.
Despite the boost for winners, the prize money for runners-up remains unchanged. Losing finalists in the Champions League will still receive $2 million, while the runners-up in the Confederation Cup will earn $1 million.
The increase is expected to provide relief for many African clubs, which have long complained that participating in CAF competitions often places a heavy financial burden on them.
One of the biggest challenges is travel. Flights across Africa can be complicated and expensive due to limited direct routes between many countries. In some instances, travelling within the continent costs more than flying to Europe.
Because of these difficulties, some clubs—particularly from southern Africa—have had to route their journeys through the Middle East or Europe before heading to North Africa for continental fixtures.
Prize money in CAF competitions has gradually improved since Patrice Motsepe became CAF president in 2021. The South African businessman is currently serving his second four-year term.
Meanwhile, attention shifts back to on-field action as the quarter-final first legs in both tournaments are set to begin this weekend.
The matches will kick off on Friday in Pretoria, where Mamelodi Sundowns will host Stade Malien in a CAF Champions League quarter-final clash.