Nigeria’s Super Eagles will return from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with pride, bronze medals and a truckload of naira notes, Soccernet.ng reports.
It has been confirmed that Nigeria’s campaign at the 35th edition of the continental showpiece is worth a guaranteed $2.5m (about N3.6bn) in prize money following their third-place finish at the tournament.
The three-time AFCON winners sealed that position in Casablanca on Saturday night by defeating Egypt 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation time, bringing an end to a long and demanding competition with a win over Africa’s most decorated teams.
The result ensured the Super Eagles finished as second runners-up in a tournament eventually won by the hosts, Morocco.
The prize money is part of the revised and significantly increased financial rewards announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the 2025 edition of the competition. Under the new structure, third place is worth $2.5m, while fourth place earns $1.3m, runners-up pocket $4m and the champions take home a record $10m.
For Nigeria, the third-place match victory over Egypt therefore came with both sporting and financial importance, closing the tournament on a positive note after the heartbreak of a semi-final defeat to Morocco, also decided by penalties.
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More dollar rains for the Super Eagles
Beyond the official CAF prize money, the Super Eagles are also set to receive significant bonuses for their efforts in Morocco.
Players will reportedly earn $15,000 each for finishing third at the tournament. SCORENigeria reports that this bonus was originally meant for the semi-final, where the team lost to hosts Morocco, but will now be paid following the playoff victory over Egypt.
It was further gathered that the squad have already received all their win bonuses from earlier in the competition, with only the third-place match bonus outstanding.
There has also been support from outside the official structures. Wealthy businessman Abdul Samad Rabiu has been reported to have promptly redeemed his pledge of $500,000 to the team in recognition of the fight they showed against Morocco in the semi-final.
In purely football terms, Nigeria’s campaign was one of the most entertaining and productive in the tournament. The Super Eagles won their first five matches in record-breaking fashion, scoring 14 goals in victories over Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Mozambique and Algeria, a national best at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Although they fell short in the semi-final against Morocco, the players responded with composure and resilience in the third-place playoff, holding Egypt scoreless before winning the shootout 4-2.
With a podium finish, a healthy financial reward and clear signs of attacking promise, the 2025 AFCON is likely to be remembered in Nigeria as a tournament that delivered both progress and profit.
