African club football is entering a new financial era after the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) confirmed a major boost in prize money for its flagship competitions.
CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe announced that the winners of the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League will now take home $6 million, while the champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup will receive $4 million.
The increase marks another step in CAF’s efforts to strengthen the financial foundation of club football across the continent.
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Bigger rewards for Africa’s top clubs
The new payout represents a $2 million increase for both competitions.
For the Champions League, the winner’s prize rises to $6 million, representing a 50 percent increase. The Confederation Cup sees an even bigger jump, with the winner’s prize doubling to $4 million.
For clubs competing at the highest level in Africa, the boost could help strengthen squads, improve infrastructure and reduce financial pressure during long continental campaigns.
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A major rise under Motsepe’s leadership
Since Patrice Motsepe became CAF president, prize money in the organisation’s club competitions has grown significantly.
In 2021, the Champions League winners received $2.5 million. With the latest announcement, that figure has climbed to $6 million, a 140 percent increase over five years.
The Confederation Cup has experienced an even steeper rise. The winners’ prize has grown from $1.25 million in 2021 to $4 million in 2026, representing a 220 percent increase.
CAF says the goal is to make African club football more competitive on the global stage while giving clubs greater financial stability.
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More support for clubs across the continent
CAF has also increased financial support for clubs that do not progress beyond the early stages of the competitions.
Teams eliminated in the preliminary rounds of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup now receive $100,000 each. This is double the $50,000 support payment introduced in the 2024/25 season.
The additional funding has encouraged wider participation, with 130 clubs from across Africa competing in the 2025/26 season, a record for the tournaments.
Overall, CAF now distributes more than $42 million per season in prize money and solidarity payments to African clubs. That figure has risen sharply from $18.8 million in 2021.
Countdown to the 2026 finals
The race for continental glory is already building toward the finals scheduled later this year.
The CAF Champions League final will be played over two legs on 15 May and 24 May 2026.
Meanwhile, the CAF Confederation Cup final will take place on 9 May and 16 May 2026.
With record prize money on offer, the stakes for Africa’s biggest club competitions have never been higher.
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Source: SuperSport
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