Cash windfall awaits Harambee Stars as historic CHAN run pays off

President William Ruto meets Harambee Stars players at the Pullman Hotel, Upper Hill, Nairobi. (Photo: PCS)

By Erick Kariuki
Saturday, August 16, 2025

Their qualification to the quarterfinals, secured without even kicking a ball, has guaranteed them a significant financial boost from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Harambee Stars’ fairytale journey at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) is not only rewriting football history but also filling the coffers of Kenyan football.

Their qualification to the quarterfinals, secured without even kicking a ball, has guaranteed them a significant financial boost from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

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Kenya sealed their passage to the knockout stages on Thursday night after Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 2-0 victory over Angola ensured that Harambee Stars could not be dislodged from the top two in Group A.

With seven points already on the board and superior head-to-head results over both DRC and Morocco, the worst Kenya can finish is second place, even if they stumble against Zambia in their final group match.

That achievement has already unlocked $450,000 (approximately Sh58 million) in prize money from CAF, a sum that will go directly to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

Should Benni McCarthy’s men extend their giant-killing run into the semi-finals, the figure will rise to at least $600,000 (Sh77.5 million). A third-place finish carries $700,000 (Sh90.4 million), while the eventual champions will pocket a staggering $3.5 million (Sh452 million).

The money is a game-changer for Kenyan football, long plagued by financial instability.

While CAF’s prize money flows to the federation, President William Ruto has introduced a direct incentive for players and coaches.

He pledged Ksh1 million for every win and Sh500,000 for a draw in the group stages. With two victories and a draw already secured, each squad member has pocketed Sh2.5 million, and the President has promised an additional Sh2.5 million for each player if they beat Zambia on Sunday.

For a team written off before the tournament, labelled underdogs in the so-called “Group of Death,” Harambee Stars have done more than just silence doubters. They are now carrying the hopes of a nation both on the pitch and in the balance sheet.

As they prepare to face Zambia, the stakes are no longer just about footballing pride.

A win would not only guarantee them top spot in Group A and the comfort of a quarterfinal at Kasarani, but also keep alive the dream of one day lifting the trophy and with it, the biggest payday in Kenyan football history.