AFCON prize money: What Ivory Coast, Nigeria, others take home

The 2023 Afcon host’s Ivory Coast walked away with 6,321,112.52 USD  in prize money after beating Nigeria 2-1 in the final played at the Olympic Stadium Ebimpé on Sunday.

William Troost-Ekong gave the Super Eagles the lead in minute 38 before Frankie Kessie equalized for the Elephants in minute 62 followed by a match-winning goal from Sebastian Haller in the 81st minute.

The Super Eagle, although not victorious, bagged $4,050,632.91 as runners-up whereas South Africa and DR Congo were awarded with Sh400 million for reaching the semifinals.

The four quarterfinalists who were eliminated (Angola, Mali, Cape Verde and Guinea) bagged Sh208 million.

CAF (Confederation of African Football) president, Patrice Motsepe had earlier announced a 40 per cent increase in the prize money for the winning Afcon nation.

“CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the Prize Money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions,” Motsepe said.

“We have increased the Prize Money of the AFCON Winner to USD 7,000,000  which is a 40 per cent increase from the previous AFCON Prize Money.”

In the 2021 edition of the tournament hosted by Cameroon, winners Senegal took home Sh795 million while runners-up Egypt got Sh437 million.

The president further said that the prize money not only symbolizes the pinnacle of football achievement but also reflects a commitment to elevating the sport’s significance on the continent.

“I am confident that a portion of the Prize Money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our Member Associations with their administrations,” the CAF President said.

The 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations began on January 13 and ended on February 11.