CAF increases cash prize for winners of African club competitions

Winners of the two Confederation of African Football (CAF) club competitions will receive substantially more prize money from this season, it was announced on Monday.

A CAF statement said the 2025/26 CAF Champions League winners will receive six million dollars (5.18 mn euros), up from four million dollars last season.

The club lifting the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup – the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League – will pocket four million dollars, a 50% increase from last season.

Prize money for runners-up is unchanged. Beaten finalists in the Champions League receive two million dollars and one million in the Confederation Cup.

Quarter-final matches begin

Increasing the prize money will be welcomed by clubs, who have complained in the past that competing in African competitions often results in a financial loss. Air travel is particularly expensive and time consuming.

The prize money has risen several times since South African businessman Patrice Motsepe became president of CAF in 2021. He is currently serving a second four-year term.

Quarter-final first legs in both the Champions League and Confederation Cup are scheduled for this weekend.

The eight-fixture programme kicks off on Friday in Pretoria, where Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa host Stade Malien of Mali in the Champions League.