Caf increases Afcon money

Confederation of African Football Friday increased prize money for teams participating at 33rd Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations finals to start today in Cameroon. Twenty-four teams including Malawi are taking part at this year’ s continental showpiece. The opening match involves hosts Cameroon and Burkina Faso today.

Confederation of African Football (Caf) Friday increased prize money for teams participating at 33rd Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals to start today in Cameroon.

Twenty-four teams including Malawi are taking part at this year’s continental showpiece.

The opening match involves hosts Cameroon and Burkina Faso today.

According to the confederation’s statement, at its executive committee meeting held in Douala, Cameroon Friday, Caf agreed to increase prize money.

Following the change, the eventual champions of the 2021 edition are expected to pocket $5 million.

In 2019, the prize money for the champions was at $4.5 million (about K3.7 billion). The hike represents 11 percent

According to Caf, the runner-up will receive $2.75 million (about K2.2 billion).

The semifinalists and quarterfinalists will get $2.2 million (about K1.8 billion) and $1.175 million (about K969 million) respectively.

In the previous edition, the runners-up got $2.5 million while the semifinalists received $2 million. Quarterfinalists pocketed $1 million.

Caf president Patrice Motsepe chaired the meeting.

“The increase is in line with Caf’s commitment to reward merit performance and enhance the status of the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations and will be effect in the upcoming edition that will kick-off at Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé on January 9, 2022,” reads part of the statement.

Caf is taking care of all the participating teams during the tournament in Cameroon.

The confederation is also reportedly paid every participating team a decent amount of $260,000 (about K214 million) for preliminary preparations.

In addition, every participating nation will get about $475, 000 (about K391 million) as participation fee.

However, Football Association of Malawi (Fam) General Secretary Alfred Gunda was not readily available for his reaction.

Sports analyst George Kaudza-Masina said the increase in prize money will motivate the players.

“This is good for the teams and Caf has set a good standard. The onus is on the players to show that they want the money or not,” Kaudza-Masina said.

Honestly, it will not be an easy task for the Flames to reach the paid ranks of the competition.

The Flames are making a third appearance at the Afcon finals after 1984 in Ivory Coast and 2010 in Angola.

However, the Flames have never reached the knockout phase after exiting the competition in the group stages.

Malawi will face Guinea in their opening group match Monday whereas Senegal will play Zimbabwe in another Group B match.

In the second match, Malawi will meet Zimbabwe Friday before meeting Senegal on January 18.

The post Caf increases Afcon money appeared first on The Times Group Malawi.