Each of Senegal’s 28 players will receive about $135,000 and a 1,500m² plot, as the country faces mounting debt pressure.
Dakar | By Farzana Momand
Senegal’s government has announced substantial rewards for the national team after its Africa Cup of Nations triumph, approving both cash bonuses and land allocations for players and associated staff.
In a formal ceremony in Dakar, Senegal’s president said each player will receive a financial bonus alongside a plot of land in the country’s coastal zone. The announcement came as large crowds gathered in the capital to welcome the team and celebrate the title.
According to the official figures released, each of the 28 players will be paid 75 million CFA francs, roughly $134,892, bringing the total bonus package to about 2.1 billion CFA francs, or approximately $3.7 million. Each player will also be granted a 1,500 square-metre plot.
The decision lands at a time of heightened economic scrutiny in Senegal. The International Monetary Fund has said the country’s debt reached 132 percent of GDP by the end of 2024, while the new administration has argued that a significant portion of liabilities was not properly reported under the previous government.
The IMF has paused a $1.8 billion lending programme, leaving Senegal increasingly reliant on regional debt auctions to meet financing needs. An IMF delegation head travelled to Senegal this week for initial discussions, as officials seek to reopen talks on a path forward.