The winners of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will receive a record $2 million after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced a major increase in prize money for the continent’s flagship women’s tournament.
The decision, confirmed on Wednesday by the CAF President Patrice Motsepe during the “CAF president press conference, doubles the champions’ reward from the $1 million received by Nigeria’s Super Falcons after winning their record extending 10th continental title at the previous edition.
CAF has also increased the competition’s overall prize fund by 67 per cent, raising it from $3.475 million to $5.8 million in what is another significant financial boost for women’s football in Africa.
The tournament runners-up will now earn $750,000, representing a 50 per cent increase, while the third-placed team will receive 43 per cent more than in the previous edition.
Every one of the 16 participating nations will also benefit from increased participation funding, with each team set to receive $150,000, up from $125,000.
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CAF said the latest increase reflects its continued commitment to developing women’s football across the continent.
According to the governing body, the winners’ prize has risen by 900 per cent under the current administration, increasing from $200,000 to $2 million. During the same period, the tournament’s overall prize fund has grown by 495 per cent, from $975,000 to $5.8 million.
The competition has also expanded in recent years, with the number of participating teams increasing from 12 to 16, providing more nations with the opportunity to compete on Africa’s biggest women’s football stage.
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The enhanced financial rewards provide additional motivation for defending champions Nigeria, who will be aiming to retain their continental crown and extend their record as Africa’s most successful women’s national team.
The 2026 WAFCON finals will be staged in Morocco from July 26 to August 16, with 16 teams competing for the continental title and the record-breaking $2 million winners’ prize.
