Uganda Cranes players will each pocket Shs 27,150,000 for making the team at the 2017 Total Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Gabon.

“We agreed that each of the 23 players who made it to Gabon will get US$7,500 (Shs 27,150,00) as appearance fees at the event,” Fufa head of finance, Decolas Kiiza told URN on Saturday night at the Port Gential Stadium where the Cranes lost 1-0 to Egypt and were subsequently ejected out of the tournament.

Cranes players in Gabon

Kizza explained that although government only budgeted for U$5,000 (Shs 17m) for the players as appearance allowances at the competition, the federation decided to top-up and make it US$7,500.

He said they had negotiated with the team that for each win at the Afcon, each player pockets US$3,000 (Shs 10,860,000) and US$1,500 (Shs 5,430,000) for a draw. The federation had also fixed another US$7,500 (Shs 27,150,000) for qualification for the semi final stage.

Kiiza said all the bonuses to the team are meant to come from the cash prize that the team will pocket at the Afcon. In-case the team comes 4th in the group stages they will bag Shs 1,719,500,000 ($475,000). The government released Shs 2 billion towards the Cranes preparations and participation at Afcon.

After losing the opening match 1-0 to the Black Stars of Ghana and following it up with the same margin loss to Egypt, the Uganda Cranes became the first team to exit the tournament.

“We have learnt a lot from this experience. All the games played at 2017 Afcon continue to make us a better brand,” said head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic.

The Cranes have today travelled to Oyem where they will face Mali in the last group D match on Wednesday.
 

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