Adedokun Waliyu 
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has raised the prize money for the winners of the forthcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast to $7 million — up from the previous amount of $5 million.
The continental football governing body announced the 40 percent increment in a statement released on Thursday.
Patrice Motsepe, CAF president, said portions of the prize money will contribute to developing football in member associations.
“CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the Prize Money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions. We have increased the Prize Money of the AFCON Winner to USD 7 000 000, which is a 40% increase from the previous AFCON Prize Money,’ the statement reads.
“I am confident that a portion of the Prize Money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our Member Associations with their administrations.”
The competition’s runners-up will get $4 million in prize money, up from $2.7 million.
The remuneration for the semi-finalists and the quarter-finalists was also increased to $2.5 million and $1.7 million respectively.
The 34th edition of the AFCON will be held in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are in Group A alongside the hosts, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria will take on Equatorial Guinea in their opening game on January 14 before facing Ivory Coast four days later and rounding off the group stage with the Guinea-Bissau tie.
The Eagles are camped in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for a one-week training before flying back to Lagos on January 9 and proceeding to Ivory Coast a day later.
Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of the competition, and Alhassan Yusuf has been drafted as his replacement on the Super Eagles team.
