Inthis piece, Izuchukwu Okosi looks at the way that former CAF Champions League winners Enyimba, headed by two-time African Footballer of the Year winner, Nwankwo Kanu, must re-invest their cash after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) improved the prize money for the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup tournaments.
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Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba, have been rewarded handsomely for finishing in third place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup in the 2024/2025 season, of the tournament.
Enyimba currently with former Super Eagles star and two-time African Footballer of the Year winner in 1996 and 1999, Nwankwo Kanu as the Team Manager have not been able to replicate the feats of the 2003 and 2004 campaigns.
However, the team were beneficiaries of the increased CAF prize money for the Champions League and the Confederation Cup.
Kanu himself played in a Champions League setting albeit the UEFA Champions League, where he won the title in 1994/95 season with Ajax.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year in 1996 and 1999, now as a club administrator understands the role rewards play in bringing the best out of a team.
Enyimba’s securing the sum of $400,000 (N600m), for finishing third in Group D of the of the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup, should be a boost to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs. The 2024/2025 season is rounding off with Remo Stars seemingly poised to become the champions-elect. What is more pertinent is that clubs invest their prize money in profitable ways to improve their lot.
The quality of their pitches, security apparatus, enhancing match day experience and marketing/ merchandise, players’ wages and travelling itineraries are some of the major issues that the clubs must tackle headlong.
Earlier this year, CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, announced a new prize money structure for the inter club competitions. The announcement means that the prize monies for the two competition have increased by 40%, in line with Dr Motsepe’s commitment to make African football competitions globally competitive and self-sustaining.
In the new structure of the Total Energies CAF Champions League, the winner will get USD 4,000,000 – an increase from the USD 2 500,000. In the Total Energies CAF Confederation Cup, the prize money for the winner has increased from USD 1,250,000 to USD 2 000 000.
Breakdown of Total Energies CAF Interclub Prize Money
CAF Champions League
Winner
USD 4 000 000
Runner-up
USD 2 000 000
Semi-Finalists (2)
USD 1 200 000
Quarter-Finalists (4)
USD 900 000
3rd of Group (4):
USD 700 000
4th of Group: (4):
USD 700 000
Total Energies CAF Confederation Cup
Prize Money
Winner
USD 2 000 000
Runner-up
USD 1 000 000
Semi-Finalists (2)
USD 750 000
Quarter-Finalists (4)
USD 550 000
3rd of Group (4):
USD 400 000
4th of Group: (4):
USD 400 000
Prize money is an enabler for positive results. The bigger concern however is on utilizing the funds for the long term good of the club.
Enyimba and other NPFL clubs must prepare for unsavory moments and strive for sustainability in their day-to-day operations.
‘Bad news’ is also part of the business of running sports/football clubs. The CAF money must go into these critical areas.
They need to prioritize safety of team players and officials, by partnering local airlines for most of their away games.
Football clubs have different deals with multi national organizations for shirt sponsorship, stadium maintenance and logistics etc, Enyimba and other Nigerian clubs, who would benefit from the improved CAF prize money should be ready for any sudden withdrawal by any of these partners in the absence of a conflict resolution, by having an alternative in place in the shortest possible time. One crucial aspect of running clubs in Nigeria, for which Enyimba falls into this category is that most clubs in the country are state-owned.
They usually have to get through government’s ‘due processes’ before having their funds approved. The state government and the Nwankwo Kanu-led management of the People’s Elephant, must ensure that this $400,000 (N600m) is reinvested into the club. Clubs have to be independently run, not always dictated by government fiat.
Furthermore, a new government policy may threaten to scupper the financial books. Contractors handling stadium projects, maintenance and the likes may elect to pull out of their contracts with clubs, the tax authorities could even send a letter to the club with a huge tax burden and the club(s) have limited time to pay.
Whatever be the feedback from stakeholders, Nigerian football clubs must be ready to deal with these pitfalls. The improved CAF prize money should be channeled to these needs.
The Enyimba hierarchy headed by Nwankwo Kanu with former international, Ifeanyi Ekwueme as Sporting Director, has to change the narrative of how state-owned clubs are run. This reflects their place as the most successful Nigerian club on the African continent
