Patrice Motsepe to increase CAF funding for all 54 African football associations

CAF president Patrice Motsepe is set to increase the annual grant paid to each of the 54 member associations from $200,000 (£? no, source euros) to $700,000 (£? Must preserve euros listed). The increase represents one of the largest financial commitments in the Confederation of African Football’s history.

The individual allocation will rise by $500,000, from $200,000 (€178,459.52) to $700,000 (€624,608.34), according to journalist Ebenezer Michael Danso Deveer, also known as Micky Jnr.

That is a 250% increase in the funding available to each association.

The additional money is intended to support the day-to-day running of national federations, improve their financial stability and assist the development of domestic football.

Potential areas of investment include infrastructure, academies, school football and amateur competitions.

The source of the funding has not been explained, amid the CAF’s limited finances. However, the planned increase will provide significant additional support to the organisation’s members.

Motsepe, who is serving his final mandate as CAF president, has continued to increase financial rewards across African football, despite not being involved in the governing body’s daily administration.

Prize money has been reviewed for a range of competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations, school football events, and women’s and youth tournaments.

The latest commitment follows CAF’s strategic conference, held from 7 to 9 October in Sal, Cape Verde.

It forms part of Motsepe’s longer-term plan to raise the annual allocation to $1m for every member association. That target is dependent on CAF securing and implementing new commercial partnerships.

CAF currently has about 15 sponsors. They include TotalEnergies, the European Union and the Loterie nationale de Cote d’Ivoire (Lonaci).

Motsepe’s proposed increase is therefore being presented as a step towards a broader financial structure in which each of CAF’s member associations would eventually receive $1m per financial year.

The plan would give national federations greater resources to invest in football development and operations, although its implementation remains linked to the creation of further commercial agreements.