The Confederation of African Football has increased the prize money for its two club competitions by $2 million each, raising the Champions League winner’s share to $6 million for the 2025/26 season.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced the increases on Monday. The Champions League victor will receive $6 million, a 50 percent increase from the previous $4 million.
The Confederation Cup winner will now earn $4 million. That figure gives a 100 percent increase, effectively doubling the previous $2 million prize.
Other latest increases
The latest increases continue an upward trend under Motsepe’s leadership. Since he assumed the CAF presidency in 2021, the Champions League prize has climbed from $2.5 million to $6 million.
That is a 140 percent increase across five years. The Confederation Cup has grown even more sharply, rising 220 percent from $1.25 million to its current $4 million.
Total prize money and solidarity payments to African clubs now exceed $42 million per season. CAF allocated just $18.8 million in 2021, meaning a 114 percent rise during Motsepe’s tenure.
The solidarity payments reward clubs that exit early. Teams eliminated in the preliminary rounds now receive $100,000 each, doubled from the $50,000 introduced in 2024.
CAF introduced these payments specifically to encourage wider participation. The 2025/26 season featured a record 130 clubs from across the continent in the two competitions.
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Runners-up prizes remain unchanged. Beaten finalists in the Champions League will receive $2 million, while Confederation Cup runners-up earn $1 million.
The increases address long-standing complaints from clubs about the financial burden of continental competition. Air travel across Africa remains expensive and logistically challenging, with many clubs forced to route through Europe or the Middle East for fixtures.
Motsepe, now serving a second four-year term, has made financial reform a cornerstone of his presidency. The latest prize increases continue his stated mission to improve the value of African football and make club competitions globally competitive.
For the clubs still standing, the reward for continental glory has never been higher.
