The Senegalese national team has secured the largest financial reward ever recorded in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations after lifting the continental title for the second time.
Senegal clinched the trophy with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco last Sunday, a final that stretched into two periods of extra time before being decided.
Beyond the prestige of being crowned African champions, Senegal also benefited financially from their successful campaign.
The team earned a prize of $7 million for winning the tournament, a figure that rises significantly when additional bonuses from the group stage and knockout rounds are included.
In total, Senegal’s earnings reached $11.6 million, making it the highest cumulative prize money ever awarded to a single team at the Africa Cup of Nations, according to the newspaper “Mundo Deportivo.”
This edition of the tournament marked a new financial milestone, with the Africa Cup of Nations distributing more money to participating teams than ever before.
Even teams that exited the competition early were guaranteed substantial rewards, underlining the growing commercial value of African football at the international level.
The scale of the prize distribution also placed the Africa Cup of Nations ahead of several other continental national team competitions, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the AFC Asian Cup, and the OFC Nations Cup. The tournament’s financial structure reflected its rising status and increasing global appeal.
Despite this progress, the Africa Cup of Nations still trails behind the two most lucrative continental tournaments worldwide. The Copa America champion earned $16 million, while the most recent European Championship, won by Spain, distributed a total of $32 million in prize money, setting a benchmark that remains unmatched.
