Massive boost as CAF provides $2.5m to five African countries at 2018 World Cup

Africa's football governing body CAF has handed a massive $2.5m financial boost to the five countries from the continent playing at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The innovative concept by the new leadership of CAF will also see the Cairo-based body providing “fieldwiz” technological equipment to ensure players perform at their best levels.

The financial boost was announced on Friday as the five countries will get the financial subsidy of $500,000 each to them prepare for the competition.

The move by the Ahmad Ahmad led CAF is to ensure that African teams prepare adequately for the competition devoid the the financial troubles that bedevil African sides at the World Cup.

This is the first time CAF is providing direct support for the countries representing the continent at the World Cup.

The move will get the African sides to improve their performance at the tournament with the trickle-down effect of attracting interest in Africa's flagship competition Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco will get the cash despite the massive financial support they will also get from the world governing body FIFA.

An ad-hoc committee chaired by the CAF 1st Vice President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, mapped out the kind of support to be provided to African representatives at the World Cup and reached the decision to boost the sides with cash and technological support.

The committee, which has CAF Executive Committee member Kalusha Bwalya and presidents of the Football Associations of the five qualified countries as members, met in Moscow, Russia, on the sidelines of the draw for the FIFA World Cup scheduled for 1 December 2017.

At the meeting, it was decided that CAF will grant a financial subsidy of $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand dollars) to each of the five African teams.

The financial package will be used mainly to strengthen and improve the technical supervision of each team.

CAF will provide each African representative with “fieldwiz” equipment, a technological device and physical performance measuring tool for outdoor team sports players.

The technological device will help to ensure that players will give off their best at the tournament next year.

The move is part of the several positive changes Ahmad is bringing to the game in Africa since taking over following his election victory over Issa Hayatou earlier this year.

A successful showing by African countries will drive more commercial and television interest in the Africa Cup of Nations to bring in more funds needed to run other competitions in Africa.

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