The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled a significant increase in prize money for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to begin this weekend in Morocco.
According to CAF, the winner of the tournament will now receive $1 million, while the runner-up will earn $500,000. The third-place team will take home $350,000.
CAF also confirmed that the revised prize structure will affect the bonuses of all participating teams, marking a broader effort to enhance investment in women’s football on the continent.
Twelve teams are set to compete in the tournament, which kicks off on Saturday, July 6. The host nation, Morocco, will face Zambia in the opening match.
The teams are divided into three groups. Group A features Morocco, Zambia, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Group B includes Nigeria, Tunisia, Botswana, and Algeria. Group C consists of defending champions South Africa, Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the most successful team in WAFCON history with nine titles, will begin their campaign on Sunday against Tunisia in Casablanca.
Defending champions Banyana Banyana of South Africa will start their title defence against Ghana on Monday.
The tournament is expected to showcase some of the continent’s top talent and further boost the profile of women’s football in Africa.
CAF’s prize increase comes amid growing calls for better support and recognition for female athletes across all levels of the sport.
