Ivory Coast and Nigeria Players Receive Money, Villas, and Recognition at Afcon

Footballers from Ivory Coast and Nigeria who participated in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday are being rewarded with cash, houses, and honors. Ivory Coast's winning squad will receive $82,000 and a villa, while the Nigerian squad will be awarded one of the country's highest honors, an apartment, and a plot of land. South Africa, who placed third, will also receive around $52,000 per player. In addition to these rewards, the usual prize money for the tournament has been increased by 40%. With almost two billion people tuning in to watch the Africa Cup of Nations, analysts hope that this increased global appreciation for African football will result in more World Cup spots for African teams in the future. Historically, African national teams have faced challenges in receiving salaries and bonuses, with instances such as the Cameroon team waiting over 30 years to receive promised houses.