Ruto to Pay Harambee Stars Players Millions for Every CHAN Victory
President William Ruto has committed substantial financial incentives to Kenya’s men’s national football team, Harambee Stars, ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN). During a visit to the team’s residential camp at Kasarani on Saturday, August 2, Ruto promised a grand prize of Ksh600 million if the team clinches the CHAN title.
Alongside the championship bonus, each player will receive Ksh1 million for every match won and Ksh500,000 for every draw throughout the 30-day tournament. The president also announced further bonuses—Ksh60 million for reaching the quarterfinals and Ksh70 million for making it to the semifinals.
Kenya, co-hosting the tournament with Tanzania and Uganda, will open their campaign against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday, August 3, at 3pm at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. The 60,000-seat stadium has already sold out, with organisers confirming that no tickets will be available at the gate.
Ruto’s incentive package is in addition to the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) prize fund of Ksh1.3 billion (USD10.4 million), a 32% increase from the Ksh1.02 billion (USD7.9 million) awarded in the 2023 edition in Algeria. The CHAN 2024 winner will walk away with Ksh452.2 million (USD3.5 million), the runner-up with Ksh155 million (USD1.2 million), and third and fourth places with Ksh90.4 million (USD700,000) and Ksh77.5 million (USD600,000) respectively.
Kenya, placed in a challenging group featuring Morocco, Angola, Zambia, and DRC, also stands to earn participation bonuses depending on performance. Bottom-placed teams in five-team groups A, B, and C, as well as the fourth-placed ones, will receive Ksh25.8 million (USD200,000). Group D’s last-placed team will earn the same.
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Ruto to Pay Harambee Stars Players Millions for Every CHAN Victory