The Nigeria Professional Football League have lost out on a potential whooping $2m windfall after failing to qualify and feature in the ongoing 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria. 

The Confederation of African Football on Friday announced a massive 60% increase on the prize money for the winner of CHAN set to be played on February 4, 2023, at Nelson Mandela Stadium. The increment, according to CAF president Patrice Motsepe, is in line with CAF’s strategy to increase the commercial value of African competitions. 

According to CAF, “The winner of this year’s trophy will receive $2m compared to the US$1,250,000 received by the previous champion two years ago.

“The total prize money allocated for the tournament has been increased to US$ 7,900,000 from the US$ 5,450,000 that was paid to all the countries that participated in the previous edition of the tournament two years ago. The runners-up will get US$800,000 while the third and fourth-placed teams will receive $500,000 each.

“The four sides that fail to progress beyond the quarter-finalists will get $400,000 each while the two countries that finish second in the groups of three teams will earn $300,000 each, the same amount as countries that finish third in groups of four teams. The bottom placed teams in all the groups will earn $200,000 each.”

Super Eagle B failed to qualify for the competition after losing 5-4 on penalties to Ghana. Nigeria beat Ghana 2-0 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja to level the score 2-2 on aggregate having lost 2-0 in Ghana.

Nigeria has failed to qualify for the competition for the second consecutive time having failed to feature at the 2018 competition in Morocco. 

The 2022 CHAN is currently in the quarter final phase. Algeria beat Ivory Coast 1-0 to qualify for the semi final while Senegal pipped Mauritania 1-0. Madagascar will face Mozambique by 5pm for their quarter-final fixture while Niger would be hoping to upset Ghana later tonight.