As the Confederation of African Football (CAF) prepares for the final match between Morocco and Senegal on Sunday, it announced that the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 has broken all previous records for commercial revenue.
Today, CAF reported that competition revenues have increased by 90% compared to the 2023 edition. This shows that the tournament is not just a sports event but also a major commercial success.
This tournament took place during the Christmas and New Year period (from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026) to make room for the FIFA Club World Cup. Some people were worried that this timing might reduce viewership, but the data show otherwise.
The rise in revenue is driven by a new group of 23 global sponsors, up from 17 in Côte d’Ivoire (2023) and nine in Cameroon (2021). The commercial growth has been both strong and varied:
- New Markets: For the first time, the tournament has generated significant revenue from the Chinese and Japanese markets, demonstrating that people in Asia are interested in African football.
- Global Brands: The list of sponsors now includes major companies from the European Union and Turkey, alongside long-term partners like TotalEnergies and Visa.
CAF Launches eAFCON
As fans in Rabat prepare for the final match, CAF also made moves in the digital world. The organisation has launched eAFCON, working with the Japanese gaming company Konami. This partnership brings the tournament into the eFootball™ world, effectively bringing CAF’s key asset online.
This move aims to:
- Engage Gen Z: It targets young people who mainly interact with football through gaming.
- Make Money from Digital Assets: It opens a new revenue stream through digital advertising and in-game items.
- Globalise the Brand: It allows fans who can’t attend the tournament in Morocco to join online.
CAF’s financial success comes from a careful review done after 2023. CAF found significant untapped interest in Brazil, India, and several key European countries. By adjusting media rights to focus on these areas, CAF has turned casual interest into real income. This plan means that while players compete for the trophy, the federation has already secured its financial success.
Conclusion
As everyone looks forward to the big match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday, it’s clear that African football has made great strides. With a 90% increase in revenue and a successful move into digital esports, African football has transitioned from a market with potential to a strong economic force. No matter who wins the trophy on Sunday, the business side of African football has already triumphed.
