Club World Cup riches await four African challengers

THE four African qualifiers for the revamped Club World Cup in the US are set to become much richer, no matter how they fare in the 32-team tournament.

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By securing places, Al Ahly of Egypt, Esperance of Tunisia, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco are each guaranteed $9.55 million (R168.8m) appearance fees.

The bonanza is the equivalent of Sundowns winning nine league titles in South Africa, the African country with the richest football prize money.

A win in the group phase will add $2m, a draw $1m, and a top-two finish and qualit cation for the knockout phase $7.5m.

Winners of the premier African club competition, the CAF Champions League, receive $4m for playing 14 or 16 matches. No side will play more than seven matches in the Club World Cup.

Here, we look at the African contenders, all of whom have competed in the Club World Cup when it was an annual seven-club affair.

Ahly

Spaniard Jose Riveiro will make his competitive debut as coach of the Cairo Red Devils when they face Lionel Messi-inspired Inter Miami in the tournament opener on June 14.