Sixfold grants. Triple the club funding. Revenues still climbing. CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe told the CAF Strategy Conference that the money is now flowing into African football, and that the continent will be judged on what it does with it.
Motsepe said the annual grant paid to each of CAF’s 54 Member Associations has grown from R2 million to R12 million in four years. The increase gives federations more room to invest in infrastructure, coaching, competitions and administration.
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R900 million a year for club football
CAF now sets aside R900 million annually for club football, up from R300 million. The allocation builds on recent moves to support clubs. From the 2025-26 season, every club that qualifies for the preliminary rounds of CAF’s club competitions receives USD 100,000.
Stronger clubs mean stronger domestic leagues, more developed players and a higher standard of continental competition.
Motsepe said CAF’s revenues continue to rise, which makes the higher distributions possible. CAF has reported revenues of USD 166.42 million and a return to profitability.
That marks a turnaround for a confederation that, when Motsepe arrived, had a negative balance of $45 million.
Judged on results
Motsepe stressed that African football will be judged on outcomes, not intentions. He wants the quality of football raised across every association, not just among a few leading nations.
His ambition is explicit: “We have to win the World Cup.”
The conference took place against the backdrop of Africa’s record showing at the 2026 World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino told delegates that nine of ten African teams reached the knockout phase this time, compared with none of five in 2018. He added that 40 African countries can now host international matches at home, up from 14 two years ago.
Cabo Verde’s Head of State, Dr. Janira Hopffer Almada, pointed to the Blue Sharks’ World Cup run as proof that organisation, discipline and belief allow smaller nations to compete globally, and called for women to take a full place in the game as referees, coaches, players, doctors and decision-makers.
Why it matters
For Member Associations, larger grants mean greater financial stability and independence. For clubs, the bigger allocation offers a chance to professionalise and compete.
With the continent now looking towards 2030, the message from Sal was that this funding and the momentum from 2026 should become a platform for lasting success.