Patrice Motsepe, Caf President. Photo by Chris Omollo Copyright: xxIMAGO
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will receive $1 million (₦1.4 billion) every year from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Soccernet.ng reports.
This development follows a sweeping financial reform unveiled by CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe, in one of the most significant funding boosts in African football history.
The announcement comes as part of CAF’s restructuring of senior national team competitions and the launch of a $1 billion commercial tender, a move designed to strengthen the financial foundations of football across the continent.
Under the new framework, each of CAF’s 54 member associations, including Nigeria, will benefit from the annual payment, a fivefold increase on the previous allocation of $200,000 to national federations.
“The restructuring of the CAF senior national team competitions and the USD 1 billion tender that we have initiated will enable CAF to contribute USD 1 million every year to each of the 54 CAF member associations,” Motsepe said.
For the NFF, the development offers welcome financial relief at a time when the federation is responsible for funding multiple national teams across men’s and women’s football, youth development structures, grassroots programmes and domestic competitions.
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The increased funding is expected to ease longstanding financial pressures while allowing the federation to plan more sustainably across all levels of the game.
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CAF trains focus on youth, women’s football and calendar reform
Motsepe said the additional resources would be targeted at areas critical to the long-term growth of African football, including youth development, women’s football, club competitions and regional tournaments.
“We will allocate a substantial amount of financial and other resources to training and developing young boys and girls football players, as this is amongst the best investments we can make for the future of African football,” he added.
CAF also confirmed that prize money for its flagship club competitions, the Champions League and Confederation Cup, will be increased, with official figures expected to be announced after the AFCON Morocco 2025 tournament.
The funding announcement comes alongside CAF’s confirmation of a new African Nations League, which will be organised in partnership with FIFA and staged every year except during FIFA World Cup years.
During World Cup cycles, the football body will suspend senior national team competitions to allow African qualifiers to focus fully on tournament preparations.
Motsepe said the reforms were aimed not only at improving finances but also at resolving persistent scheduling challenges that have often placed African players at the centre of club-versus-country disputes.
“We are excited about the new changes that we have introduced, which will make African senior national team competitions amongst the best in the world, with the best African football players who play in the best leagues in the world participating every year,” Motsepe said.
He added: “We want to ensure that African football players do not find themselves in calendar or fixture conflicts between their clubs and national teams.”
CAF believes the combined impact of increased funding, calendar reform and elite competition structures will significantly enhance Africa’s standing in the global game.
“The future of African football is bright,” Motsepe added.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicked off on Sunday, with hosts Morocco beating Comoros 2-0. Nigeria begin their campaign on Tuesday against Tanzania in Fez.