By Alex C
Five African countries- Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Cote d’ Ivoire and Ghana participating in the 2014 World Cup which began in Brazil on Thursday have the potential to receive a combined $40 million if they are knocked out in the initial group stages.
This means their underperformance will generate revenue for their respective national football associations. These revenue earnings are coming at a time when many footballers from this continent are doing well in European leagues.
According to FIFA, each of the 16 countries eliminated in the initial group stage, will each be paid $8 million in Brazil 2014 World Cup. If each of these African countries performs better to advance to the next round of eight teams, each will get paid $9 million even if they are eliminated. This means a combined $45 million will come to Africa.
Furthermore, African countries eliminated in the quarter finals will each be paid out $14 million.
In the previous World Cups, African countries have found it tough to reach the quarter finals stage and beyond. Many believe Africa has a long way before going beyond this stage and reaching the finals.
In the current World Cup, FIFA has budgeted $576 million in prize money. This amount is 37 percent higher than the one budgeted in 2010 FIFA World Cup that held in South Africa. The current World Cup is expected to benefit commercial sectors in the African countries that are represented in the global sporting fiesta.
Individuals in these countries are to spend their money for consumption in sport bars and well-known eateries. Others are likely to purchase new television sets so they can watch their countrymen play in the global sports fiesta including companies in these sectors.
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