The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is preparing to offer financial assistance to the four African clubs that have qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with final decisions to be made later this month.
CAF’s Executive Committee will meet on April 26 in Accra, Ghana, to determine the scope and structure of the financial support.
The meeting is expected to focus on strategies aimed at easing the logistical and operational burdens facing Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, and Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of their participation in the global tournament.
Scheduled to be hosted in the United States during the summer, the expanded 2025 Club World Cup marks a significant milestone in global football, featuring 32 of the world’s top club teams.
Africa’s representation will come from Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa, with each club carrying the responsibility of showcasing the continent’s football pedigree on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
While the tournament presents a major opportunity for these clubs to compete with the best from Europe, South America, and beyond, the scale of the competition poses challenges in terms of travel, preparation, and infrastructure.
CAF’s potential funding initiative is seen as a critical step toward levelling the playing field.
Sources within CAF have indicated that the organisation is exploring different models of assistance, including subsidies for travel, accommodation, and training camps.
The objective is to ensure that the African representatives arrive at the tournament well-equipped, both physically and financially, to meet the demands of elite international competition.
Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, and Mamelodi Sundowns have each earned their spots through strong performances in the CAF Champions League in recent seasons.
Their participation in the Club World Cup will not only highlight their individual achievements but also serve as a reflection of African football’s progress on the global stage.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has previously stressed the importance of supporting African clubs in international competitions, acknowledging that success abroad has a ripple effect on the development of the sport across the continent.
The upcoming Executive Committee meeting in Accra is therefore expected to reinforce that commitment with concrete decisions.
This initiative comes at a time when CAF is seeking to enhance the competitiveness of its clubs globally while also strengthening domestic football ecosystems.
By addressing the financial disparities that often hinder African teams in global tournaments, CAF aims to empower its representatives to compete with confidence and ambition.
The 2025 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup will mark the first time the tournament features 32 teams, adopting a World Cup-style format. For African clubs, it represents not just a challenge, but a golden opportunity to test their quality against football’s elite.
The outcome of CAF’s meeting in Accra could set a precedent for how the confederation supports its members in future editions, potentially shaping the long-term prospects of African clubs on the international stage.
