CAF confirms ₦65.3bn for Champions League & Confed Cup: How much NPFL clubs will earn

CAF’s flagship competitions — the Champions League and Confederation Cup — are set to kick off in a few weeks, with teams across the continent preparing to battle for continental supremacy, Afrik-Foot reports.

​The draws are scheduled for Thursday, where all qualified clubs will discover their opponents for the preliminary rounds.

​Nigeria has four representatives across both tournaments. Rivers United and league champions Enugu Rangers will fly the country’s flag in the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Shooting Stars, who finished third in the league last season, and President Federation Cup winners El Kanemi Warriors will compete in the Confederation Cup.

​Ahead of the tournament kickoff, it has been confirmed that teams eliminated in the preliminary rounds will receive $100,000.

​This payout stood at $50,000 during the 2024/25 season before being doubled last term. For the upcoming campaign, clubs knocked out in the preliminary stage will retain the same $100,000 financial consolation.

With CAF scheduled to host preliminary round draws this Thursday for the Champions League and the Confederation Cup respectively, this season entails a cash injection for both 📊.

Clubs that are eliminated in the preliminary rounds are set to receive USD 100 000 as CAF's effort… pic.twitter.com/WlrvwBVGOs

— KickOff Online (@KickOffMagazine) August 3, 2026

​The competition features two preliminary rounds. In the first round, lower-ranked and smaller teams face off, while the heavyweight clubs enter the fray in the second preliminary round against the winners from the opening stage.

​What Rivers United, Rangers, and Others Could Earn From CAF

​While Nigeria Premier Football League clubs are guaranteed at least $100,000 next season, that should not be their ceiling. Instead, their sights should be firmly set on winning the titles.

​CAF has announced a $48 million (₦65.3bn) total funding package for both competitions, with the Champions League winner taking home a staggering $6 million.

​The runner-up will pocket $4 million, semifinalists receive $1.2 million, and quarterfinalists will earn $900,000. Additionally, clubs eliminated at the group stage will walk away with $700,000 each.

​With four groups of four teams, finishing first or second in the group automatically secures a quarterfinal berth. Given these lucrative financial rewards, the clubs and their players have massive motivation to chase glory this term.

​In the Confederation Cup, the champion will receive $2 million, while the runner-up gets $1 million — sums that run into billions of Naira.

​Sides that exit in the semifinals will pocket $750,000, quarterfinalists will take home $550,000, and group-stage casualties will secure $400,000 each.

​For clubs like El Kanemi Warriors and Shooting Stars, that kind of financial injection would be transformative. Both sides will be aiming to break into the group stage and push deep into the tournament.

​The first set of preliminary round games will start on September 11.