Patrice Motsepe unveils historic $10 million prize money for AFCON Morocco 2025

CAF President Patrice Motsepe

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has significantly raised the financial stakes of its flagship tournament, announcing that the champions of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 will walk away with a record-breaking prize of USD 10 million.

CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe made the announcement on Saturday in Rabat after a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee, just a day before the tournament officially kicks off.

The new figure represents a major leap from recent editions, underlining what Motsepe describes as a deliberate push to strengthen African football financially.

The $10 million prize is a 43% increase from the USD 7 million earned by Côte d’Ivoire when they lifted the trophy in 2023.

It is also double the USD 5 million paid to winners of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, meaning prize money for champions has grown by 100% in just four years.

Speaking to the media, Motsepe emphasised that the steady rise is part of CAF’s broader vision to make the sport more sustainable and commercially competitive on the global stage.

“It was less than $5 million before the 2023 edition,” he said. “We will continue to increase the prize money for the most important competition in Africa. If you win, you get $10 million — that is the key objective as we move forward.”

The financial rewards at Morocco 2025 will not stop with the champions. CAF confirmed that the runners-up will receive USD 4 million, while each of the two semi-finalists will earn USD 2.5 million, ensuring deeper progression in the tournament comes with substantial financial backing.

Motsepe also revealed that similar increases are planned for CAF’s major club competitions.

According to the CAF president, prize money for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will be reviewed upward from 2026, although exact figures will only be announced in the new year.

He hinted that the changes could significantly reshape the economic landscape of African club football.

Beyond the financial boost, CAF is also preparing a major shift in how the Africa Cup of Nations is staged. Motsepe confirmed that the tournament will move away from its current two-year cycle and transition to a four-year format after 2028, a move aimed at easing scheduling tensions with European clubs and aligning AFCON more closely with global football calendars.

Under the current plan, the 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, followed by a transitional edition in 2028.

Thereafter, AFCON is expected to be held every four years, with future tournaments pencilled in for 2032 and 2036.

To ensure African national teams still have regular competitive fixtures, CAF is exploring the introduction of a “League of African Nations,” inspired by UEFA’s Nations League model.

All these announcements come on the eve of Morocco’s opening match against Comoros, as the host nation prepares to launch what is shaping up to be one of the most financially significant AFCON tournaments in history.