The Right to Dream Academy, a Ghanaian football academy that provides education and training for talented boys and girls, has secured a $120 million investment from Man Capital LLP, a subsidiary of the Egyptian Mansour Group. According to the academy, this is the largest corporate investment in the history of African football.
The partnership will enable the academy to expand its intake of players and coaches in Ghana and launch a new academy for boys and girls in West Cairo, Egypt. The new academy will feature state-of-the-art facilities and will be the first of its kind in North Africa. The partnership will also support the creating of a new professional women’s team in Egypt, which will compete in the Egyptian Premier League.
The Right to Dream Academy was founded in 1999 by Tom Vernon, a Welshman who moved to Ghana to pursue his passion for football and social change. The academy has since produced some of the best youth players in Ghana, such as Abdul Majeed Waris, David Accam, Mohammed Kudus, and Kamaldeen Sulemana. The academy also operates a sister academy and club in Denmark, FC Nordsjælland, which competes in the Danish Superliga.
The Mansour Group is one of the largest conglomerates in Africa, with interests in automotive, engineering, mining, retail, and philanthropy. Mohamed Mansour leads the group, ranked as one of the richest Africans by Forbes. The group has a long history of supporting African communities through its foundations and other charitable activities.
The investment agreement was announced at a ceremony in Cairo on October 12, 2023, attended by dignitaries from both countries. The ceremony also marked the official opening of the new academy in Egypt, which welcomed its first batch of students.
Tom Vernon, the CEO of Right to Dream Group, said that he was proud of the partnership and that it would help the academy achieve its vision of creating a new standard of purpose-driven sports for players and clubs. He said the academy’s philosophy was based on Ghanaian values and culture, which he hoped to export to other parts of the world.
Mohamed Mansour, the chairman and founder of Man Capital, said that he was impressed by the work done by Right to Dream and that he was happy to be part of their journey. He said that he believed in the power of football to transform lives and communities and that he looked forward to seeing the partnership’s impact on Ghana and Egypt.
The partnership between Right to Dream and Mansour Group is expected to boost the development of football in Africa and beyond. It is also seen as a sign of strengthening ties between two African nations that share a passion for the beautiful game.
