Keypoints:
- Four African clubs to earn $9.55mn each
- Group wins, draws offer further bonuses
- CAF prize dwarfed by Club World Cup fees
AFRICA’S four representatives at the inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in the United States are set to cash in handsomely—regardless of how they perform on the pitch.
Al Ahly (Egypt), Esperance (Tunisia), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) have each secured a minimum of $9.55mn in participation fees. The tournament kicks off on June 14 and marks a new era for global club football, with significantly larger rewards than those offered in the traditional CAF Champions League.
To put the financial scale in perspective: Sundowns would need to win South Africa’s Premier Division nine times to match the appearance fee they are guaranteed in the US.
Bonus cash for wins and progress
In addition to the base sum, teams can earn bonuses based on performance. A win in the group stage will net $2mn, while a draw secures $1mn. Should any side advance to the knockout rounds by finishing in the top two of their group, a further $7.5mn will be added.
In contrast, the CAF Champions League winner receives just $4mn—less than half the Club World Cup participation fee—after playing up to 16 matches. No team will play more than seven fixtures in the expanded FIFA tournament.
All four African clubs are familiar with the global stage, having competed in the previous seven-team versions of the Club World Cup.
Al Ahly: Riveiro’s debut and a Messi test
Newly appointed coach Jose Riveiro, fresh from his successful stint at South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, will make his competitive debut for Egyptian giants Al Ahly in a blockbuster opener against Inter Miami and Lionel Messi.
‘The best way to contain Messi is to stop the ball reaching him,’ said Riveiro. ‘But we also have a plan for when he does get possession.’
Ahly have bolstered their squad with two high-profile signings: ex-Aston Villa striker Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan and winger Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed from rivals Zamalek.
Esperance: New coach, old problems
Tunisian powerhouse Esperance are under the guidance of former player Maher Kanzari, who stepped in after Romanian coach Laurențiu Reghecampf was dismissed mid-season. Kanzari delivered a domestic double but oversaw a lacklustre Champions League quarter-final exit.
Star striker Youcef Belaili, with seven Champions League goals to his name, will be central to Esperance’s hopes of success.
Sundowns: Redemption after final heartbreak
South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns arrive under a cloud, having lost the 2025 CAF Champions League final to Pyramids of Egypt—a result that disappointed fans and raised questions over coach Miguel Cardoso’s tactics.
Criticism peaked when Cardoso benched veteran Themba Zwane during both legs of the final. Goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams, a national hero after his historic four-penalty shootout performance at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, will lead the team in the US.
Wydad: Turnaround under Benhachem
Wydad Casablanca are the only African side in the competition not facing a Brazilian opponent in the group phase. However, with English champions Manchester City and Italian giants Juventus in their section, expectations are modest.
The club parted ways with South African coach Rulani Mokwena after a disappointing domestic campaign and failure to secure 2026 Champions League qualification. His replacement, local coach Mohamed Benhachem, sparked a late-season revival.
New signings include Burkina Faso midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki and Dutch defender Bart Meijers. Wydad may be underdogs, but their resurgence hints at potential surprises.
