Emeka Nweze
The likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United are ranked among the top most valued sport franchises in the world with with values exceeding $1 billion. Although not all European clubs can boast of such mind-blowing figures, especially with the impact of the coronavirus. However, how exactly do African clubs compare to their counterparts abroad? See the 10 most valuable clubs in Africa.
1. Al Ahli SC
Estimated value – $28 million
Al Ahly Sporting Club, commonly referred to as Al Ahly, is an Egyptian professional sports club based in Cairo. Al Ahly is regarded as the most decorated football club in Africa with a record of 41 national league titles, 36 national cups titles, and 11 national super cup titles. The Egyptian giants have also won a record 8 CAF Champions League titles, a CAF Confederation Cup title, a record 6 CAF Super Cup titles, a record 4 African Cup Winners’ Cup titles, a bronze medal in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup among other numerous accolades. Al Ahly is the second most successful club in the world in terms of number of international titles (20) won behind Real Madrid (26). The club is often regarded as “The Club of the Century” in African football.
2. Kaizer Chiefs
Estimated value – $23 million
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club is a South African professional football club founded on January 7th 1970. The club is based in Dingamanzi and plays its home games at the FNB stadium. The team is nicknamed Amakhosi which means “Lords” or “Chiefs” in Zulu, and the Phefeni Glamour Boys. Chiefs have won 12 League titles and over 50 club trophies. They are one of the most supported clubs in South Africa , drawing an average home attendance of 14,873 in the 2018/2019 season as well as the most supported team in sub-Saharan Africa with a support base of over 16,000,000 fans.
3. Pyramid FC
Estimated value – $22 million
Formed in 2008 in Assiut as Al Assiouty Sport and gained promotion to the Egyptian Premier League for the first time in its history in 2014, after winning the promotion play-offs. In 2018 the Chairman of the Saudi Sports Authority Turki Al Sheikh took over the team and chahged its name to Pyramids FC. On 4 July 2019, the Emirati businessman Salem Al Shamsi managed to acquire the ownership of Pyramids FC.
4. Club Africain
Estimated value – $20 million
Club Africain is a Tunisian club founded October 4 1920. It is the most popular football club in Tunisia and one of the most successful in Tunisia. Club Africain was the first Tunisian club to win an international trophy in 1971, when they won the Maghreb Cup Winners Cup. The club has also won 13 Tunisian league titles and 13 Tunisian cups
5. Zamalek SC
Estimated value – $18 million
Zamalek Sporting Club, commonly referred to as Zamalek, is an Egyptian sports club based in Giza, Egypt. Zamalek was the first Egyptian team to ever win a title which was the Sultan Hussein Cup in 1921, the first team to ever win Egypt Cup in 1922, and the first team to ever win Cairo League in 1922/1923. Zamalek has won five CAF Champions League titles, one CAF Confederation Cup title, four CAF Super Cup titles and one African Cup Winners’ Cup title; making it one of the most successful clubs in Africa.
6. Orlando Pirates
Estimated value – $15 million
Orlando Pirates Football Club is a South African professional football club based in the Houghton suburb of the city of Johannesburg and plays in the South African Premier Soccer League. Orlando Pirates are the first club since the inception of the Premier Soccer League in 1996 to have won three major trophies in a single season back to back, feats they achieved during the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons. They are also one of only two South African teams to win the CAF Champions League, which they won in 1995.
7. Wydad Casablanca
Estimated value – $11 million
Wydad Athletic Club or otherwise simply called Wydad, is a Moroccan sports club based in Casablanca city, in Morocco. Wydad AC is considered to be one of the best and most successful football teams in Morocco and Africa. The reds have won a record of 20 Moroccan league titles, 9 Moroccan Cups, 9 Moroccan Super Cups and 1 Independence Cup. In continental competitions the club has won 2CAF Champions League, 1 CAF Cup Winners, 1 CAF Super Cup to mention a few.
8. TP Mazembe
Estimated value – $11 million
Tout Puissant Mazembe is a Congolese football club based in Lubumbashi. Mazembe are among the major sports clubs in DR Congo and one of the most successful football teams in Africa ever with 36 national and international titles won. They gained international popularity when they defeated the Internacional of Brazil in the semifinal of the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup. They are also widely supported, drawing an average home attendance of 11,888 in the 2015–16 Linafoot season.
9. L’Esperance Tunis
Estimated value – $11 million
Espérance Sportive de Tunis is a sports club based in Bab Souika, Tunis, Tunisia founded in 1919. Esperance is the most successful Tunisian club; domestically, they have won 29 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 titles, 15 Tunisian Cup and 4 Tunisian Super Cup. At international level, Esperance has won 12 titles, 8 of which
10. MC Alger
Estimated value – $10 million
Mouloudia Club d’Alger is an Algerian football club based in Algiers, founded in 1921 and plays its home games at the Stade 5 Juillet 1962. They are one of the most successful Algerian clubs having won the domestic league 7 times and the domestic cup 7 times. MC Alger were the first Algerian club to win a continental competition, winning the 1976 African Cup of Champions Clubs.
