The Harambee Stars are set for a hefty payout of Ksh25.8 million just for participating in the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The 19-team tournament, which was originally set to take place in 2023, was delayed twice, but it's all systems go with the countdown to the August 2 kickoff underway.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed a record prize pool for this year’s tournament, which is set at Ksh 1.3 billion (USD10.4 million), marking a 32 per cent increase from the Ksh1.02 billion (USD7.9 million) awarded at the last edition of the competition, held in Algeria in 2023.
As far as the breakdown of the prize money, the winning team will be awarded Ksh452.2 million (USD3.5 million), which is a considerable hike from the Ksh 258.4 million (USD2 million) awarded to Senegal, who were champions of the previous edition of the tournament.
Meanwhile, runners-up will receive Ksh155 million (USD1.2 million), while third- and fourth-place finishers will be awarded Ksh90.4 million (USD700,000) and Ksh77.5 million (USD600,000) respectively.
Besides the participation prize money, Kenya stands for heftier payouts depending on their overall performance at the CHAN 2024. The Harambee Stars find themselves in a fairly competitive group, comprising 2018 and 2020 champions Morocco, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as Zambia.
According to CAF's breakdown of the prize money, the bottom-placed teams in the five-team groups (‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’) will each receive Ksh25.8 million (USD200,000). This will also apply to the fourth-placed teams in these groups. The bottom-placed team in the four-team Group D will also receive a similar amount.
If Kenya manages a third-place finish, it will pocket Ksh 38.7 million (USD300,000).
It gets better if Benni McCarthy's side gets to the quarter-finals, as quarter-finalists are compensated with Ksh58.1 million (USD450,000).
This would require the Harambee Stars to finish in the top two of their group, as only the top two teams from each pool will advance to the last eight.
Ahead of the tournament, ticket sales have already gone live, with VIP tickets selling out in Kenya in record time.
On Wednesday, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya explained new protocols, which are designed to guarantee a secure and seamless experience for all attendees. Among the key directives outlined by the CS is a complete shift to digital ticketing. Fans will only be allowed entry into stadiums with valid online tickets, as no physical tickets will be accepted at any gate.
Another safety measure implemented by the country includes a four-point screening system, which sets a high standard for stadium safety, offering fans a seamless, secure, and world-class tournament experience.
