By Victor Kanayo
If reports from France are anything to go by, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote will any moment from now takeover the management of a French football club – Valenciennes FC.
According to a french media platform, Entreprendre, the 86th richest man in the world, who controls up to 25% of all African billionaires’ fortune, would reportedly conclude a transaction of 10 million euros to acquire up to 60% ownership of the French Ligue 2 team.
The Nigerian business guru had made attempts to buy Premier League giants Arsenal in the past, but that deal failed to materialise after his bid was termed unsuccessful.
The wealthy man has now turned to France to fulfill his dream of still owning a club.
Valenciennes FC is a club established in 1913, with a lengthy history of winning the Ligue 2, the Championnat National, and the Championnat de France amateur.
At the moment, the French side is ranked 15th in Ligue 2, which suggests that they are not doing very well in the 2022–23 season campaign.
Before Dangote, two other Nigerian billionaires Shola Akinlade and Kunle Soname owned clubs in Europe.
While Akinade controls Danish club Aarhus Fremad, Soname owns Portuguese second-division team Clube Desportivo Feirense.
Dozy Mmobuosi, another billionaire from Nigeria in the technology sector, is on the verge of acquiring English Football League team Sheffield United for £90 million.
