AFRICA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL Welcome

Football is a game but most importantly it is also big business. And as such has some major hitters involved in it. It is a global sport with multiple leagues and teams all competing for our attention and money whilst there is always also a power plays for control and stewardship of the game. We have sought to produce an informed list of key people of African origin who in 2017 can be positioned as the major movers and shakers in football.

In no particular order of rank or influence, we have produced a list that seeks to highlight the major figures taking into consideration their authority and power as well as the financial, professional, administrative, social and “soft” muscle they wield on the sport.

Our approach considers Africans with influence in the game as opposed to influencers who hold sway over African football.

Francis Nkwain: Founder BoA

METHODOLOGY

• COMPANY/ORGANISATION • POSITION • COMPETENCE • NAME RECOGNITION • ASSOCIATED GROUP • HOME NATION AND CAF COEFFICIENT Patrice Motsepe President Member Secretary General Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. FIFA Council FIFA

Chris Hughton Michael Emenalo Florent Ibenge Manager Technical Director Manager Brighton & Hove Albion Chelsea F.C. DR Congo National Team

Ronald Karauri Kaizer Motaung Steven Kabba CEO Founder Agent SportPesa Kaizer Chiefs Stellar Group Kingsley Pungong Kwame Ampadu Strive Masiyiwa CEO Coach Founder Rainbow World Group Arsenal U18’s Kwese Sport

Zinedine Zidane Didier Drogba Aboubacry Ba Manager Co-owner Presenter Real Madrid Phoenix Rising F.C. Canal +

Moise Katumbi Dr Irvin Khoza Chairman President Chairman TP Mazembe Football Association Orlando Pirates Frederic Kanoute Colin Udoh Mimi Fawaz Founder Presenter Journalist 12 MANagement Kwese Sport Kwese Sport

Aliou Cisse Koos Bekker Samuel Eto’o Manager Chairman Ambassador Senegal National Team Naspers (SuperSport) MTN

Claude Makelele Phillip Chiyangwa Hamdi Meddeb Assistant Manager President President Swansea City COSAFA Esperance Sportive de Tunis Rachid Taoussi Robert Brazza Kwesi Nyantakyi Manager Presenter President Raja Casablanca Canal + Football Association

Patrick Vieira Ahmad Ahmad Patrick Mboma Manager President Presenter New York City F.C. CAF Canal +

Thato Moeng Paul Pogba Mahmoud Taher Presenter Ambassador Chairman SuperSport SC Fouzi Lekjaa Selemani Hamidou Msaidie President Second Vice-President Assistant Coach Moroccan Football CAF Real Madrid Association

Momar Nguer Ehab Allam Chris Kamara President, Marketing & Vice Chairman Presenter Services Hull City Tigers Sky Sports Total

Amaju Melvin Pinnick Habib Beye Ephraim Mashaba President Presenter Manager Nigeria Football Association Canal + South National Team Danny Jordaan Alioum Saidou Saer Seck President Agent President South Africa Football Diambars Association

Stanley Kwenda Robert Marawa Journalist Presenter BBC Africa SuperSport

Get In Touch POLARIS MEDIA T +44207 828 6617 E [email protected] W www.polaris-media.co.uk • When Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura was announced as the new secretary-general of FIFA in May 2016, not only was she the first female to hold an executive role but the first African.

• Chris Hughton was the first manager of African heritage to get a team promoted to the Premier League. He has achieved this not only once but twice.

• FIFA awarded Strive Masiyiwa’s television company, Kwesé Sport the exclusive free-to-air rights to broadcast the finals of the FIFA World Cup 2018 tournament in sub-Saharan Africa (except South Africa). Kwesé Sport will broadcast the World Cup exclusively for FREE in over 40 countries, at the same time. This has never happened before in African history.

• Mimi Fawaz keeps herself busy with being the face of football for Kwesé Sport, BBC Sport World Service, CNN and ESPN. • In April this year Didier Drogba became football’s first player- owner at American club Phoenix Rising. The 39-year-old striker will be involved in all boardroom decisions and will learn his new role on the job while continuing to play.