Boost for African clubs as CAF announce 40% increase in price money for continental competitions

FOOTBALL Boost for African clubs as CAF announce 40% increase in price money for continental competitions

Mark Kinyanjui 19:33 - 22.05.2023

This is what African clubs that qualify for CAF competitions next season will receive should they reach the group stages of either competition.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a 40 percent increase in its prize money structures, meaning more cash for clubs who qualify for the Group Stages of the Champions League and Confederation Cup.

Teams that qualify for the group stages of the Champions League will now be guaranteed at least 700,000 USD, equivalent to approximately Ksh96.4 million. This is the amount teams that finish in third and fourth positions of the Group Stages and fail to make it to the quarters will earn.

Teams that progress to the quarter finals will be guaranteed 900,000 USD, equivalent to Sh123.9 million.

Those that make the semis will each bank a whopping $1.2 million, equivalent to Ksh156.2 million.

The winners of the title are guaranteed a prize money of $4 million, equivalent to Ksh550 million while the losing finalist will bank $2 million, equivalent to Ksh275.3 million.

In the Confederation Cup, teams that make the group stages will now be guaranteed $400,000 (Ksh55.1 million). This is the money paid out to the third and fourth-place finishers.

Those who make the quarter-finals, the first and second in the group, earn$550,000 (Ksh75.8 million) while the semi-finalists each earn $750,000 (Ksh103.2 million).

The winner of the title will walk home with $2 million (Ksh275.3 million) while the losing finalist gets a consolation of $1 million (Ksh137.7 million).

This means that this year, Tanzania’s Yanga, who have made their first-ever final in the CAF Confederation Cup, are guaranteed at least Sh137.7 million.

Kenyan clubs have struggled to make an imprint in continental football. The last team to make the group stages of an African continental competition was Gor Mahia in the 2018/19 season when they reached the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup.

This season, no Kenyan club has participated in CAF Competitions due to the year-long FIFA suspension imposed on the country.

In the 2021-22 season, both Gor Mahia and Tusker FC were eliminated in the play-off round of the CAF Confederations Cup, just one step away from the lucrative group stages.

The incentives will be able to give Kenyan clubs who stand a chance of qualifying for continental competitions next season the motivation they need to reach the group stages of the competitions.

One way is through the FKF Cup, with one of Kakamega Homeboyz and Tusker sure to seal a place in the Confederations Cup next season by winning it.

However, Tusker, who are leading the FKF Premier League table with four matches remaining, will seal the Champions League slot should they go on to win it. This means Homeboyz will qualify for the CAF Confederations Cup regardless of the outcome of the final.

However, Gor Mahia and Nzoia Sugar could also win the title. Gor are just one point behind Tusker while Nzoia are just four behind.