Shooting Stars and Rivers United are set to receive $100,000 each from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), despite their elimination from the 2026/27 continental club competitions at the preliminary stage.
CAF disclosed the solidarity payment during the preliminary-round draws held in August, explaining that clubs knocked out at that stage would each receive $100,000. The initiative is part of the football body’s efforts to support participating clubs and encourage greater involvement in its inter-club competitions.
“The winners of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League will receive $6m in prize money, while the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup champions will earn $4m,” CAF announced.
“Clubs eliminated in the preliminary rounds will each receive a solidarity payment of $100,000, part of CAF’s continued investment in supporting participating teams and increasing engagement in its Interclub competitions.”
Rivers United’s Champions League campaign ended abruptly on Sunday after they were eliminated by Ivorian side San Pedro.
The 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League runners-up exited the competition under the away-goals rule after both legs finished 3-3 on aggregate.
Rivers United secured a 1-1 draw in the opening leg in Ivory Coast last weekend. However, the Nigerian side faced an uphill battle in the return fixture after conceding twice before mounting a late fightback.
Shooting Stars also crashed out of the CAF Confederation Cup after losing their first-leg advantage against Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien.
The Oluyole Warriors entered the second leg with a 1-0 lead secured in Abeokuta, but Iyed Belwafi levelled the tie with an opening goal in the 27th minute. Youssef Habchia then scored in the 68th minute to give the Tunisian club the advantage.
Shooting Stars were unable to find the decisive goal needed to keep their continental campaign alive.
Meanwhile, Nigerian champions Rangers International have been drawn against CAF Confederation Cup winners USM Alger in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, with qualification for the group stage on the line.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, El-Kanemi Warriors advanced despite a 1-0 defeat to UDIB in Guinea-Bissau, progressing 3-1 on aggregate. They will now meet Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca in the second preliminary round.
Rangers International and El-Kanemi Warriors will also qualify for the $100,000 solidarity payment should they fail to progress to the group stages.
The opening preliminary round has now been concluded, while the second round is scheduled for October. Group-stage fixtures are expected to begin in November, with the 2026/27 finals slated for May 9 to 31, 2027.
