AFCON 2025: What Bafana Bafana will earn after early elimination

While South Africans are feeling the pain of Bafana Bafana’s elimination from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the impact of the early exit will also be felt in the pocket.

AFCON has become one of the most lucrative tournaments and participating teams walk away with a big prize money depending on how far they go. It therefore means early elimination leads to low earnings and here is where South Africa are.

Bafana Bafana were one of the biggest earners at AFCON 2023, when they reached the semi-final and finished third, as they banked $2.5 million (R41 million) which was going to each of the semi-finalists during the tournament held in Ivory Coast.

Less than impressive campaign in Morocco

Heading to the 2025 edition, there was plenty of confidence that Broos’ men would go all the way and win it and if they failed, then at least another semi-final.

However, Bafana Bafana had a less than impressive campaign as after a 2-1 win over Angola, followed by a 1-0 loss to Egypt before beating Zimbabwe 3-2 at the group stage, they made it to the knockout round as the second-placed team in Group B.

That set up a meeting with five-time champions Cameroon, Broos’ former team, but they met their waterloo as the Indomitable Lions beat them 2-1.

How much will Bafana earn from AFCON 2025?

Following their early exit, South Africa will earn $800,000 (R13.2 million) being the prize money that went to all teams that reached the Round of 16 at AFCON 2025.

This is a R28 million loss from their campaign in Ivory Coast two years ago. Had they gone past Cameroon, they would have earned $1.3 million (21.5 million) for making the quarter-final and the same R41 million for a semi-final appearance.

Winners of AFCON 2025 will take home $10 million (R165 million) up from the $7 million (R115.7 million) that Ivory Coast banked for winning the 2023 tournament while second place will attract $4 million (R66 million) in prize money.