AFCON Commercial Revenue Soars 90%, Marking a New Era for African Football
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a landmark 90% increase in commercial revenue for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), declaring the recent Morocco-hosted tournament the most commercially successful in the competition’s history. This financial surge, detailed in an official CAF statement and a subsequent Reuters report from January 16, 2026, underscores a strategic transformation for the continental championship.
CAF attributes this remarkable growth to three primary factors: enhanced media rights distribution, a significant expansion in commercial partnerships, and a successful push into new international markets, with Asia noted as a particularly important region. This development signals AFCON’s rising global profile and CAF’s concerted effort to reposition the tournament as a premier, commercially competitive football property on the world stage.
The expansion of the sponsor portfolio provides a clear metric for this success. The number of commercial partners has grown steadily from nine during the 2021 edition to 17 at the 2023 finals in Ivory Coast. For the 2025 tournament in Morocco, CAF has secured 23 sponsors. The governing body stated this growth “reflects both the attraction of new global brands and the retention of existing partners, for whom the AFCON has been an excellent return on investment.”
While specific current revenue figures were not disclosed, CAF’s recent financial disclosures offer context. Financial statements presented at last year’s congress reported $96 million in net contract revenues from the previous AFCON. Furthermore, CAF’s annual report projected that the Morocco-hosted event would generate approximately $114 million in net profit. This trajectory suggests AFCON is becoming a major revenue driver, moving past earlier editions that faced challenges with sponsorship depth and broadcast reach.
The strategic expansion into new markets like Asia has been crucial, helping diversify revenue streams beyond traditional African and European bases and reducing reliance on them. In related football news from the region, the importance of security and stability for sporting success is underscored by events such as the recent rescue of six individuals, while the political landscape continues to evolve, as seen in discussions around the Anambra guber race beginning early and debates on aeropolitics moving forward without policy backing. Meanwhile, community leaders like the Kwara monarch play vital roles in national cohesion, even as serious international dialogues continue on issues like the alleged Christian genocide.
