The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, have secured a significant financial reward for their performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The team has been awarded $2.5 million (approximately N3.56 billion) for clinching third place in the tournament held in Morocco.
Penalty Drama Secures Bronze for Nigeria
The Eagles secured their podium finish after a tense bronze medal match against Egypt in Casablanca. After a goalless draw in regular time, the match was decided by a penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as the hero, making two crucial saves during the shootout. One of his key stops was against Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah, a moment that sealed a 4–2 penalty victory for Nigeria. This marks the nation's ninth third-place finish in the history of the continental championship.
Record Prize Money for Champions and Contenders
The 2025 edition of AFCON featured a substantial increase in prize money, as announced by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe. The total financial package for teams saw a notable jump from the 2023 figures.
The breakdown of the major awards is as follows:
- Champions (Senegal): $10 million (N14.23b)
- Runners-up (Morocco): $4 million (N5.69b)
- Third Place (Nigeria): $2.5 million (N3.56b)
- Fourth Place (Egypt): $1.3 million (N1.85b)
Other participating teams also received substantial payouts. Each quarter-finalist was awarded $800,000, while teams finishing third and fourth in their groups earned $700,000 and $500,000 respectively.
CAF's Commitment to Growing African Football
The financial boost across the board is a clear part of CAF's strategy to enhance the prestige and competitiveness of African football. President Motsepe highlighted this progressive vision during a pre-tournament briefing at Rabat's Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
"It was less than $5m before 2023, and we increased it to $7m. So, if you win, you’ll get $10m, and that’s the key objective as we move forward. We will continue to increase the prize money for the most important competition in Africa," Motsepe stated.
In the tournament's finale, Senegal were crowned champions for the second time in their history. They defeated host nation Morocco 1–0 after extra time in a chaotic final held in Rabat. The decisive goal was scored by Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye, who found the top corner with a powerful strike during the additional period.
While the Super Eagles fell short of the ultimate prize, their bronze medal finish and the accompanying $2.5 million windfall represent a successful campaign and a valuable investment into the future of Nigerian football.
