THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced a major financial uplift for clubs participating in the upcoming 2025/26 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. The move is expected to ease club preparations and enhance the competitive quality of the tournaments.

From the 2025/26 season, CAF, under president Patrice Motsepe (pictured), will double its preparation funds for participating clubs. Previously, each club received USD 50,000 to aid their logistical and training preparations ahead of the continental fixtures. 

However, starting with the upcoming season, this amount has been increased to USD 100,000 per team, equivalent to over Tanzanian Shillings 260 million. This increase marks a significant step towards promoting professionalism and competitiveness in African football.

Tanzania will be well represented in CAF’s club competitions. Mainland Premier League champions Young Africans Sports Club (Yanga ) will lead the charge in the CAF Champions League. Their rivals and last season’s league runners-up, Simba SC, will also feature in the Champions League. Azam FC and Singida Black Stars will represent Tanzania in the CAF Confederation Cup after strong performances in the 2024/25 season.

Simba, in particular, have received an additional boost. The Msimbazi Street-based side are among five top-performing African clubs that will be exempt from the first preliminary round of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League. This exemption is a result of their strong record and CAF club ranking based on performances in recent continental competitions. 

The exemption means Simba will enter the tournament from the second preliminary round, giving them more time to prepare and easing the pressure of early fixtures.

CAF has confirmed that the journey for participating clubs in both the Champions League and Confederation Cup will begin in September with the First Preliminary Round. Clubs exempted from this phase, including Simba, will join the competition later that month during the second round.

In another major development, CAF has also announced a 45% increase in prize money for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which is held in Morocco started in July 5 to 26, 2025. The tournament is taking place across five cities in Morocco and is expected to be one of the most competitive editions yet.

The financial incentives for WAFCON have been significantly enhanced to reflect the growing stature of the women’s game on the continent. The winning team of the 2025 tournament will walk away with USD 1,000,000 - a 100% increase from the previous USD 500,000. The runners-up will now earn USD 500,000, up from USD 300,000.

Teams finishing third and fourth will also benefit from increased financial rewards. The third-placed side will receive USD 350,000, while the fourth will earn USD 300,000. In addition, the four teams eliminated in the quarter-final stage will each collect USD 200,000.

CAF has ensured that all participating teams will not leave empty-handed. Even teams that finish third in their group will pocket USD 150,000, and those finishing fourth in their respective groups will receive USD 125,000. This initiative reflects CAF's commitment to incentivizing participation and competitiveness across all levels of the tournament.

The financial restructuring across CAF competitions underlines the body’s broader vision of developing football infrastructure, enhancing club professionalism, and raising the competitive standards in both men’s and women’s football across the continent.

For Tanzanian clubs like Young Africans, Simba, Azam FC, and Singida Black Stars, the increased preparation allowance and the prospect of improved prize money present an opportunity not only to plan better but also to aspire for deeper runs in continental competitions. These developments may further inspire clubs to invest in better player recruitment, coaching, and infrastructure development as they prepare to carry the nation’s hopes on the continental stage.