The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) has grown in stature over the years—not just in terms of viewership and competitiveness, but also financially.
With CAF now placing increased emphasis on the women's game, recent editions of the tournament have seen significant bumps in prize money, particularly for the champions and runners-up.
As the 2024 edition (held in 2025) reaches its conclusion, here’s a closer look at what’s on offer for the Super Falcons this year as they contest the final against hosts Morocco, and how that compares to previous editions.
2024 WAFCON: Record payout on offer for Super Falcons
For the first time in tournament history, the WAFCON champions will take home $1 million, double the amount awarded in 2022. Runners-up will earn $500,000, up from $300,000. This follows CAF’s announcement of a 45% increase in the overall prize pool, which now stands at $3.475 million.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe described the increase as part of the organization’s strategy to make women’s football in Africa globally competitive.
2022: The first big leap forward
The 2022 edition in Morocco marked a major shift. CAF increased the winner’s prize from $200,000 to $500,000, and the runner-up’s from $175,000 to $300,000. The total pool more than doubled to $2.4 million.
Prior to 2022, WAFCON offered little financial reward. Nigeria, who won all but two of the previous editions, earned $200,000 each time, with runners-up taking home $175,000. Lower-placed teams typically received nothing.
Tracking the growth in numbers
| Edition | Winner’s Prize | Runner-up Prize | Total Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-2022 | $200,000 | $175,000 | ~$975,000 |
| 2022 | $500,000 | $300,000 | $2.4 million |
| 2024 | $1,000,000 | $500,000 | $3.475 million |
CAF’s progressive increases in prize money reflect not just financial commitment, but a deeper effort to elevate the women’s game. WAFCON is gradually becoming a pathway to professional sustainability for Africa's women footballers.
