AFCON
Exclusive: It’s Senegal’s season of harvest of dollars
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
If there is any football federation in Africa whose national team is swimming in ocean of dollars, it is the Senegal Football Federation.
Over the last five years, Senegal national team has raked $30m (Ncc) as prize money from their qualification to two editions of the World Cup and participation in three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Not only has the national team consistently been rated as number one in Africa in over four years, it has been the one with the biggest harvest of money from successes on the field.
Since it has also depended on its citizen as the head coach, it also means the Senegal Teranga Lions do not suffer from capital flight as their coach, Aliou Cissé will be paid in domestic currency.
In the past five years, Senegal has been experiencing financial increase from prize monies. As quarter-finalists at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal earned $800,000 (N332.6m) after they agonisingly crashed out against Cameroon in an encounter decided by penalty shoot-out.
Like Nigeria and the other three African teams that scaled through but crashed out at Russia 2018 World Cup, Senegal earned $1.5million (N623.6m) as qualification fee and another $8m (N3.3b) in the group stage taking their gross earning over the period of 2017/2018 to $10.3m (N4.28b).
As runners-up at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Senegal’s prize money was $2.5m (N1b) bringing the gross since 2017 to $12.8m. At the time, Nigeria’s prize money as third-placed team was $2m (N831m) Super Eagles earned $9.5m (N 3.9b) from the Russia 2018 participation.
As winners of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations played in 2022, Senegal earned $5m (N2b) thus taking their earning from 2017 to February 2022 to $17.8m (N7.4b).
Being knocked out before the quarter-finals, Nigeria had no income from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Missing out at Qatar 2022 means a loss of $12.5m (N5.1b).
For Senegal, it is a net-breaking, boat-sinking catch as they will get $2.5m (N1b) World Cup qualification fee, with a projected additional $10m (N4.1b) if they don’t move beyond the group stage.
Their earnings increase as they progress in the competition. They are the African team with the best ratio of wins at the World Cup and had been only African team to advance to the quarter finals at their World Cup debut.
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
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By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
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