The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened the tender process for the commercial rights to the next three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), covering the 2028, 2032 and 2036 tournaments.
The confederation is seeking a single commercial partner to manage and maximise the value of the competition’s media, broadcast, sponsorship and marketing rights. Interested parties have until August 24 to submit their bids.
CAF has also launched the bidding process for national associations interested in hosting the next three editions of the men’s continental championship.
The AFCON is set to move to a four-year cycle as part of a broader effort to align the international football calendar with FIFA’s plans for a more streamlined schedule.
2025 AFCON commercial revenue rose 95%
CAF said the 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco generated a cumulative television audience of more than 3.2 billion and over six billion digital views.
According to the confederation, AFCON is now the third-largest international football event globally, behind only the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.
The 2025 tournament also generated a 95% increase in commercial revenue compared with the previous cycle, highlighting the growing value of African football to broadcasters, sponsors and commercial partners.
The new tender package covers the full commercial operation of the tournament, including media distribution, sponsorship sales and marketing assets.
CAF said revenues generated from the sale of these rights play an important role in funding football development across the continent.
WAFCON winner’s prize money doubles to $2 million
CAF has also announced a significant increase in prize money for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The winner’s prize has doubled to $2 million, while the overall prize pool has increased from $3.475 million to $5.8 million.
The runner-up will now receive $750,000, representing a 50% increase, while the prize for the third-placed team has risen by 43%.
Each of the 16 participating women’s national teams will also receive $150,000 in participation funding, up from $125,000 at the previous edition.
The 2026 WAFCON will take place in Morocco from July 26 to August 16.
The increase in prize money comes as CAF seeks to strengthen the commercial and sporting value of women’s football across Africa.