This development, announced by CAF on Tuesday, represents a 75% increase in prize money for the tournament’s champion—who will now receive $3.5 million, up from the $2 million awarded in the previous edition. The move is seen as a major boost to the competition, which is exclusively reserved for players competing in their respective domestic leagues.
Bigger Rewards Across the Board
Beyond the champion’s earnings, the revised prize structure will benefit all 19 participating teams. The runner-up is set to receive $1.2 million, while third and fourth-placed teams will earn $700,000 and $600,000, respectively.
Quarter-finalists who fail to advance will not leave empty-handed, as each will receive $450,000. Teams finishing third or fourth in their groups will be awarded $300,000 or $200,000, depending on the size and structure of their group. Even bottom-placed teams in five-team groups will secure a $200,000 payout—ensuring that every team, regardless of performance, receives financial compensation for its participation.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe emphasized that the increased funding is part of a wider strategy to strengthen African football from the grassroots up.
“This increase in prize money will support the development of locally based players and help strengthen the global competitiveness of African football,” Motsepe said in a statement. “CHAN remains a key part of our strategy to make African football more appealing to fans, sponsors, and global broadcasters.”
A Stage for Local Talent
Since its inception in 2009, CHAN has served as a platform for domestic-based players to showcase their skills at an international level. Unlike the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), CHAN features only players who play in their home countries’ leagues, making it a crucial pipeline for talent development and exposure.
The 2024 edition—officially titled the CAF African Nations Championship Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda 2024—is also groundbreaking in terms of its hosting format. For the first time, the tournament will be jointly hosted by three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It is scheduled to take place from August 2 to 30, 2025.
The expanded format will bring together 19 national teams, including defending champions Senegal, record holders Morocco and DR Congo, and regional heavyweights like Nigeria, Algeria, Guinea, and Zambia.
Nigeria Returns with Ambition
For Nigeria, CHAN 2024 marks a high-stakes return. The home-based Super Eagles are making a comeback after missing the last edition and will be aiming to surpass their best-ever finish as runners-up in 2018.
Having qualified by defeating long-time rivals Ghana 3–1 on aggregate, Coach Eric Chelle's squad is expected to field some of the nation’s top local talents with hopes of securing the country's first CHAN title.
With a boosted prize pool and increased international attention, the 2024 CHAN tournament is shaping up to be the most significant edition yet—both in financial terms and in its role as a catalyst for the development of African domestic football.