Following the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse effects, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided to advance first installment to the clubs featuring in the 2019-2020 interclub competitions.
The first advance is aimed at reducing the clubs’ financial burdens targeting the 32 clubs that qualified for the group stages of this year’s CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup.
The development was confirmed in an official statement released by the African football governing body, CAF on Saturday.
“The world of football and for that matter, African football is going through unprecedented difficulties. The current situation has had a telling effect on African football stakeholders, and CAF is being responsive to the needs of our Clubs, one of our key stakeholders, by facilitating the payment of their prize monies well ahead of time,” said CAF President Ahmad Ahmad.
Each team that qualified for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup group stages is destined to get USD 550,000 and USD 275,000 respectively. However, the money keeps on accumulating as the teams progress to further stages in the competition.
Previously, clubs have been receiving their money at the end of the CAF Interclub competitions but this will change for this season in an effort to help teams go through this trying moment.
Before the suspension of football activities, both competitions reached the semi-final stage.
Morrocan giants Raja Casablanca were drawn against Egyptian side Zamalek as Wydad Casablanca from Morocco and Al-Ahly from Egypt tie was also awaiting in the Champions League.
In the Confederation Cup, Pyramids from Egypt will meet Guinea’s Horoya while a Moroccan affair between RS Berkane and Hassania Agadir awaits on the other side.
The 32 teams that qualified for the 2019/2020 Interclub competitions
CAF Champions League
Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia), TP Mazembe (DRC), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Al-Ahly (Egypt), Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia) Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Zamalek (Egypt), Raja Casablanca (Morocco), USM Alger (Algeria), Zesco United (Zambia), AS Vita Club (DRC), Al-Hilal (Sudan), 1º de Agosto (Angola), FC Platinum (Zimbabwe), Petro de Luanda (Angola), JS Kabylie (Algeria)
CAF Confederation Cup
Horoya (Guinea), RS Berkane (Morocco), Enyimba (Nigeria), Al-Masry (Egypt), Hassania Agadir (Morocco), Zanaco (Zambia), Enugu Rangers (Nigeria), Djoliba (Mali) Paradou AC (Algeria), ESAE (Benin), DC Motema Pembe (DRC), Pyramids (Egypt) FC San Pédro (Ivory Coast), Al-Nasr (Libya), Nouadhibou (Mauritania), Bidvest Wits (South Africa).