Following the Super Eagles’ triumphant journey to the semi-finals of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, the team has clinched a significant prize of $2.5 million (approximately N3 billion).
Nigeria sealed their spot in the semi-finals after defeating Angola with a 1-0 scoreline at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Friday.
As one of the last four teams in the competition, the Eagles, alongside their semi-final opponents South Africa, DR Congo, and hosts Ivory Coast, have secured a prize fund of $2.5 million.
Before the tournament commenced, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, had announced a 40% increase in prize money for AFCON.
According to the statement released on CAF’s website on January 4, the tournament winners will receive $7 million, marking a $2 million increase from the previous edition.
The runners-up will now get $4 million, while each semi-finalist will receive $2.5 million. The four quarter-finalists will take home $1.3 million each.
Motsepe stated, “CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the prize money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions.”
He expressed confidence that some of the prize money would contribute to football development and benefit all football stakeholders.
If the Super Eagles progress to the final, they are set to secure a minimum of $4 million (N5 billion) in prize money. Should they emerge victorious in the tournament, the team will receive a grand prize of $7 million (N8.8 billion).
The Eagles arrived in Bouake, Ivory Coast, on Tuesday before their semi-final clash against South Africa. The team had played all their previous matches in Abidjan, securing victories over Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Angola.
Nigeria had played a semi-final match in the same city during the 1984 AFCON, ultimately winning against Egypt.
The winners of the Nigeria vs South Africa clash will face the victors of the Ivory Coast vs DR Congo encounter in the final.