Hundreds of millions await Harambee Starlets at WAFCON after CAF prize boost
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 23.07.26. | 07:54
The expanded financial rewards come as CAF continues to grow the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, with the tournament now featuring 16 teams,
Millions of shillings are up for grabs for Harambee Starlets after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled a record prize fund for the 2026 TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Kenya's national women's team is guaranteed USD 150,000 (approximately KSh19.5 million) simply for qualifying for the 16-team tournament, with significantly bigger rewards on offer depending on how far the Starlets progress.
CAF announced that it had increased the total WAFCON prize fund by 67 percent, from USD 3.475 million to USD 5.8 million, in what the governing body described as another major investment in the growth of women's football across Africa.
The biggest winners will be the tournament champions, who will pocket USD 2 million (approximately KSh258 million) after CAF doubled the winners' prize money. The runners-up will receive USD 750,000 (KSh 98.67 million) while the third-placed team will walk home with USD 500,000 (approximately KSh64.6 million).
For Harambee Starlets, the announcement guarantees a financial windfall before they even kick a ball, with each of the 16 participating nations set to receive USD 150,000 in participation funding. The amount represents a 20 percent increase from the USD 125,000 awarded at the previous edition.
The prize money boost comes as Beldine Odemba's side prepares for a daunting Group A campaign at the tournament, which kicks off on Sunday in Morocco.
The Starlets have been drawn alongside hosts Morocco, Senegal and Algeria, with their campaign beginning against the tournament hosts before facing Senegal in their second fixture and Algeria in their final group-stage match.
Odemba's charges have spent the past few days in a training camp in France fine-tuning their preparations before flying to Morocco on Wednesday evening to complete the final phase of their build-up ahead of their long-awaited return to the continental showpiece.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe said the increased prize money underlines the organisation's commitment to raising the profile of women's football across Africa.
Since the current CAF leadership assumed office, the winners' prize has risen by 900 percent, from USD 200,000 to USD 2 million, while the tournament's total prize fund has increased by 495 percent, from USD 975,000 to USD 5.8 million.
The expanded financial rewards come as CAF continues to grow the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, with the tournament now featuring 16 teams, double the number that competed just a few years ago.
