Unlike most continents, where billionaires own clubs, the richest football clubs in Africa are often fan-supported. That’s why you’ll find they double up as clubs with the most fans on the continent.
Apart from selling tickets at football games, there are other ways in which the wealthiest clubs in Africa make money. They include selling their best talents to other clubs, sponsorship deals from big brands, and prize money from winning major competitions.
In this article, we shall highlight the net worth of African football clubs, their formation, as well as their achievements.
1. Al Ahly Sporting Club – $28 million
- Country: Egypt
- Founded: 1907
- Stadium: Al Ahly WE – Al Salam Stadium
- Chairman: Mahmoud El Khatib
Al Ahly SC is the richest football club in Africa, with an estimated market value of $28 million. Al Ahly, also called the Red Devils, started as a meeting ground for Cairo Student Unions, in April 1907, in Cairo.
The purpose of starting the club was to unite Egyptian high school youths who could not participate in British football clubs in their neighbourhood due to colonial rules.
Al Ahly won the first Egyptian Premier League title in the 1948-49 season and has since held this title 42 times. The team went ahead to win 36 times in the Egypt Cup, 8 times in the African Champions League and 11 times in the Egyptian Cup, which is a record high.
In 2000, CAF named Al Ahly the African Club of the Century. The club’s massive wealth comes from hosting football tournaments and sponsorship deals.
2. Zamalek Sporting Club – $25 million
- Country: Egypt
- Founded: 5 January 1911
- Stadium: Cairo International Stadium
- Chairman: Mortar Mansour
Formed in 1911, Zamalek is another Egyptian powerhouse, closely trailing Al Ahly. The club has an estimated net worth of $25 million, which makes it 2nd wealthiest football club in Africa.
History has it that the club was started by a Belgian Lawyer, George Merzbach, as a team for people of all nations, as the main club would not allow non-British players.
Zamalek is one of the few African clubs owned by billionaires. The club’s owner is an Egyptian lawyer, Mortar Mansour, who has been the club’s president since 2006.
Zamalek is Egypt’s second most successful club in terms of titles won. They have played in all seasons of the Egyptian Premier League, where they are the current champions.
They have also won numerous titles, including 5 CAF Champions League, 1 African Cup Winners’ Cup, and 4 CAF Super Cups.
3. Mamelodi Sundowns – $19 million
- Country: South Africa
- Founded: 1970
- Stadium: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
- Chairman: Tlhopie Motsepe
With a net worth of approximately $19 million, Mamelodi Sundowns has emerged as one of Africa’s most successful football clubs.
The club is owned by the mining and business tycoon Patrice Motsep, who is also the current president of the Confederation of African Football. Mamelodi was started back in 1964 by a number of youths living in Marabastad, Pretoria, as Marabastad Sundowns.
The club was later formalized in the year 1970 and renamed Mamelodi Sundowns. They were the first South African football team to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2016.
In 2016, the Sundowns won the CAF Champions League and were voted the CAF Club of the Year in the same year.
They also won the CAF Super Cup in 2017 and the MTN 8 Cup four times. As of 2024, Mamelodi Sundowns are rated the best in South Africa’s PSL.
4. Pyramids FC – $19 Million
- Country: Egypt
- Founded: 2008
- Stadium: 30th June Stadium
- Chairman: Mamdouh Eid
Pyramids FC is a relatively new club that started in 2008 as Al Assiouty Sport in the city of Beni Seuf. The Pyramids FC is one of the African clubs owned by billionaires and boasts a market value of over $19 million.
Business magnet Salem Al-Shamshi is the owner of Pyramids FC. He bought the club back in July 2019 from Turki Al-Sheikh, a former Saudi Sports Authority. Since then, he has heavily invested in the club to make it what it is today.
Pyramids FC first competed in Egyptian Premier League in 2014. In the 2018-19 Egyptian League, they finished in the 3rd place, which qualified them to compete in the CAF Confederation Cup 2019-2020 season.
They reached the Egypt Cup finals in the same season, eventually losing to Zamalek. They have, however, been able to maintain their presence on the national scene by competing in the Egyptian Premier League.
5. Kaizer Chiefs – $15 million
- Country: South Africa
- Founded: 1970
- Stadium: FNB Stadium
- Chairman: Kaizer Motaung
Kaizer Chiefs was established in 1970 and has a huge fan base of over 40 million followers within the South African Region and over 7 million fans on social media.
The club, also known as AmaKhosi, was founded by Kaizer Motaung upon his return to South Africa.
Motaung played for Atlanta Chiefs in the USA as a striker. The Chiefs are on the list of African clubs owned by billionaires, with an estimated net worth of over $15 million based on the squad value.
The Kaizer Chiefs have a record win of over 22 club trophies and 13 league wins. In 2001, they won the African Cup Winners Cup, which qualified them to play the 2002 CAF Super Cup against Al Ahly.
In the same year, Kaizer Chiefs were chosen by CAF as the Club Of The Year.
Apart from the heavy investment by the club’s owner Kaizer, the team also makes money through selling tickets, sponsorship deals as well as transfers of talented players.
6. Esperance Sportive de Tunis – $13 million
- Country: Tunisia
- Founded: 15th January 1919
- Stadium: Stade Hammadi Agrebi
- Chairman: Hamdi Meddeb
Officially formed in 1919, Esperance Sportive de Tunis is arguably the most successful club in Tunisian football history.
The club is estimated to have a whopping net worth of about $13 million, making them one of the richest football clubs in Africa.
Esperance club was established in Bab Souika, a then neighbourhood of Tunis, by two key figures, Mohamed Zouaoui, and Hedi Kallel. They aimed to resist the French Colonization, which was dominant then.
Esperance Sportive de Tunis is the current champion of the highly coveted Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1, which is their 32nd title. Also, they have won 15 Tunisian Cup titles as well as 6 Tunisian Super Cup titles.
The Esperance Sportive De Tunis has consistently dominated local and continental competitions. Their accomplishments and passionate supporters contribute to their financial stature.
7. AmaZulu FC – $11.32 million
- Country: South Africa
- Founded: 1932
- Stadium: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
- Chairman: Sandile Zungu
The Amazulu FC is one of the oldest football clubs in South Africa, formed in 1932. The club was established by the Zulu migrant workers, and they introduced it to Solomon, a Zulu King, who would name it Zulu Royals.
A business guru, Sandile Zungu, bought the club in 2020 and invested heavily to revive it. As of now, AmaZulu FC is one of the wealthiest clubs in South Africa, with a market value of over $ 11 million.
They currently play in the Premier Soccer League and the DStv Premiership. The AmaZulu FC were the NedBank Winners of 1992, as well as MTN 8 winners 2002-03 season.
They were also the 2022 Telkom Knockout runners-up and KwaZulu-Natal Premiers Cup winners 2018.
Their passionate fan base and competitive performances in continental competitions contribute to their market value.
8. TP Mazembe DR Congo – $11 million
- Country: DR Congo
- Founded: 2 November 1939
- Stadium: Stade TP Mazembe
- Chairman: Moise Katumbi Chapwe
Tout Puissant Mazembe, the oldest club in Congo, was established in 1939 by Benedictine monks.
The monks who operated a boy’s school in Lubumbashi, Katanga Province, called Institute Saint-Boniface School, decided to start a boy’s scout football team.
TP Mazembe’s chairman has invested heavily in the club as a major shareholder, and the club has a market value of over $ 11 million.
The club first won the African Cup of Champions in 1967 and 1968. Later in 2009, the TP Mazembe team won the CAF Champions League, which qualified them for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup.
They are the current Linafoot title holder in Congo, which is their 19th title. TP Mazembe Club has placed DR Congo on the footballing map. Their devoted fan base and successful continental campaigns enhance their market value.
9. USM Alger – $9.65 million
- Country: Algiers
- Founded: 1937
- Stadium: Omar Hamadi Stadium
- Chairman: Sid Ahmed Arab
The USM Alger Club was established in 1935 in Algeria by two merchants, Mustapha Kaoiu and Omar Aichoun. Their idea was to start a sports association that was exclusively for Muslims, in which no Europeans would participate.
The club is owned by Groupe SERPORT, and has a market value of over $9 million, making it one of the richest football clubs in Africa.
This Iconic Algiers football club has won 8 titles for Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, where they currently play, and the Algerian Cup. They also won 2 times in the Algerian Super Cup and 1 title in the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) Club Championship in 2013.
USMA Alger was in the 2015 CAF Champions League Finals but lost to their rivals TP Mazembe.
10. Wydad Casablanca – $9 million
- Country: Morocco
- Founded: 8th May 1937
- Stadium: Stade Mohammed V
- Chairman: Said Naciri
Founded in 1937 in Casablanca, Wydad Casablanca is one of the most prominent clubs in Morroco.
The club was established as a way to resist French Colonialism and allow Moroccans access to swimming pools designated for clubs.
Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi led a group of seven Moroccans to push the French government to allow them to create a “Full Morrocan Club”.
Wydad Casablanca’s market value is estimated to be about $9 million, making it one of the richest clubs in Africa. They are the current Champions of the Botola Pro title, which is their 22nd title.
Besides that, they have triumphed in the CAF Champions League thrice, won the Moroccan Throne Cups title 9 times, and 1 CAF Super Cup and African Cup Winners’ Cup.
The club’s loyal supporters and consistent performance in domestic and continental competitions make them a valuable footballing entity.
11. Raja Club Athletic – $8 million
- Country: Morocco
- Founded: 20th March 1949
- Stadium: Stade Mohammed V
- Chairman: Aziz Elbadraoui
Raja Casablanca, founded in 1949 in Derb Sultan, shares the limelight with Wydad Casablanca as one of Morocco’s footballing giants.
It was started as a Moroccan Resistance by then-honorary president Moulay Sassi Ben Ahmed and other heads of Moroccan unions.
The club has grown over the years to become one of the wealthiest clubs in Africa, with an estimated net worth of over $8 million. Together with Wydad, Raja CA founded the Botola Pro, where they have an impressive 12 titles.
They have also won the Moroccan Throne Cup 8 times, 2 CAF Super Cups, 1 CAF Cup, and 3 CAF Champions League titles.
With a passionate fan base and strong financial backing, Raja Casablanca holds a notable market value.
12. Club Africain – $7 million
- Country: Tunisia
- Founded: 4th October 1920
- Stadium: Stade Olympique de Rades
- Chairman: Youssef El Almi
Trailing slightly behind the Raja CA is Club Africain, a Tunisian football club that was started in 1920.
The club’s estimated market value is $7 million, making it one of the wealthiest football clubs in Africa.
Club Africain has showcased its consistency and competitiveness by winning several trophies. In 1971, Club Africain became the first Tunisian football club to win an international trophy when they brought home the Maghreb Cup Winners Cup.
Later in 1991, they clinched the African Champions League title, which was the first ever for Tunisia. Besides that, they have won the Tunisian Cup 13 times and the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 for 13 times.
Club Africain’s strong brand presence contributes to its considerable market value.
13. Orlando Pirates – $6 million
- Country: South Africa
- Founded: 1937
- Stadium: Orlando Stadium
- Chairman: Irvin Khoza
The Orlando Pirates were formalized in 1937 as Orlando Boys in Orlando Soweto. At its inception in 1934, the club was made up of children of migrants who had relocated from villages to work at Gauteng gold mines.
The boys would meet together to play football, and that’s how the club started. The club was acquired by the South African Businessman Irvin Khoza in 1991, who is also their current president.
Orlando Pirates have a net worth of over $6 million, making them one of the richest clubs in South Africa.
The Pirates have had a record of title wins with a total of 35 trophies, among them 9 League titles. They also won 11 times at the MTN 8, 1 CAF Super Cup title, 5 Carling Black Label Cup titles, and 1 CAF Champions League title.
14. Enyimba International FC (Nigeria) – $5 million
- Country: Nigeria
- Founded: 1976
- Stadium: Enyimba International Stadium
- Chairman: Felix Anyansi Agwu
Enyimba International FC, formed in 1976, has consistently dominated Nigerian football.
At its inception, the club was state-owned and was started by Jerry Amadi, then the state’s Director of Sports.
Enyimba International FC is one of the richest clubs in Nigeria, with a market value estimate of $5 million.
They have won 7 Nigerian Premier League titles and 2 CAF Super Cups and twice conquered the CAF Champions League.
In 2003 Enyimba won the trophy of the Best Team in Africa. Then in 2004 club’s goalkeeper won the Champions League Player of the Year, while their coach was awarded the Best Coach award.
Enyimba FC’s passionate fan base and solid financial backing contribute to its substantial market value.
15. Étoile Sportive du Sahel – $4 million
- Country: Tunisia
- Founded: 11 May 1925
- Stadium: Stade Olympique de Sousse
- Chairman: Othman Jenayah
Étoile Sportive du Sahel club was established during a French-Tunisian meeting at a French-Arab school in May of 1925 in Sousse.
The Club is one of the wealthiest clubs in Tunisian, with a market value of over $ 4 million. Most of their wealth is accumulated through the selling of game tickets and sponsorship deals.
Etoile Sportive currently plays in the Professional League 1. They competed in the FIFA World Cup in Japan in 2007.
Besides that, they have won 2 titles in the African Cup Winners’ Cup, the CAF Confederation Cup, and the CAF Super Cup.
This makes them the most successful Tunisian football club.
