The Harambee Stars are in line to win hundreds of millions if they mastermind a triumph in the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Kenya is set to co-host the delayed competition alongside her East African neighbours Tanzania and Uganda from February 1 to February 8, with a lot at stake for every nation involved.
Africa's football governing body CAF released a statement on Tuesday, January 7, revealing that the prize money for the winner and the total prize money would be hiked by 75% and 32% respectively.
This means the winner of the tournament is set to receive nearly double the previous prize money as CAF revealed the cash kitty was broadened to USD 3.5 million (approximately Ksh 451.5 million) from the previous USD 2 million (approximately Ksh 258 million). This signifies a 75% increase.
Cameroon, who were the winners of the last CHAN tournament, were feted with USD1,250,000 (approximately KSh161,250,000).
Further, the total prize money set aside for the delayed tournament stands at USD 10.4 million (approximately Ksh 1.342 billion) - a 32% increase from the last edition's prize money.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe attributed the increase in prize money to the body's long-term plan to develop African football and increase its ratings globally.
"This Competition is part of our strategy of investing in African football and making it appealing and attractive to football fans, TV viewers, sponsors, partners, and other stakeholders in Africa and worldwide,” Motsepe said.
Dig deeper: The CHAN tournament will see 19 nations including the hosts Kenya battle it out for the top prize. Other teams that have qualified include Tanzania, Uganda, Morocco, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Sudan, Zambia, Angola and Madagascar.
In the build-up to the competition, there were initial concerns that Kenya would lose hosting rights due to unpreparedness as the government battles to have stadia ready by the start of the competition.
Motsepe, however, alienated concerns in December 2024, expressing confidence that the country would be ready for the tournament by February 2025.
“This level of commitment and passion to ensure the stadiums, infrastructure, facilities, and training pitches are ready by February gives me all the confidence in the world that the preparations for the CHAN and AFCON in 2027 will be equally successful,” he said during a tour of Nyayo Stadium.
