Investing in African Sports: Where the Real Opportunities Are (Pan-African Strategy Explained)
7 December 2025
This clip is taken from "Investing in African Sports: Where the Real Opportunities Are," from the 2024 ASU Connex Summit in London, in partnership with Charles Russell Speechlys & AfroSport Group.
Africa is fast becoming one of the most important frontiers in global sport, not only for talent but for scalable investment opportunity. This conversation breaks down why a pan-African investment strategy outperforms a country-by-country approach, what global sports organisations already understand about Africa's future value, and where the real long-term opportunity lies.
What this conversation covers:
- •Why a pan-African investment strategy offers opportunity not found in Europe or the United States
- •How global sports leaders such as the NBA, NFL and FIFA already see Africa as the future of talent
- •Which markets are naturally attracting investment, and why Rwanda is an unexpected standout
- •How to shift global investor perceptions around risk, corruption and due diligence
- •Where the real future value lies: talent identification, athlete development and league pathways built within Africa
Speakers:
- •Absera Gizaw, Partner, Helios Sports & Entertainment
- •Keir Gordon, Partner, Charles Russell Speechlys
- •Gabriel Ajala, Founder, Africa Sports Unified
Key takeaways
- Why a pan-African investment strategy outperforms a country-by-country approach
- What global sports organisations (NBA, NFL, FIFA) already know about Africa's future value
- Which markets naturally attract investment — and why Rwanda is an unexpected standout
- How to shift investor perception around risk, due diligence, and opportunity in African sport
- Where the real future value lies: talent identification, athlete development, and in-continent league pathways
