Sports
According to him, South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns operate with an annual budget of about $16 million. Egypt’s top clubs spend roughly $24 million, while Sudanese giants Al Hilal and Al Merrikh also operate multi-million-dollar budgets.
One sentence from Godfred Akoto Boafo captured the harsh reality of modern African football.
“African football is a rich man’s sport.”
During his conversation with Kafui Dey, the respected sports analyst laid out figures that explain why Ghana’s clubs continue to fall behind some of the continent’s heavyweights.
According to him, South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns operate with an annual budget of about $16 million. Egypt’s top clubs spend roughly $24 million, while Sudanese giants Al Hilal and Al Merrikh also operate multi-million-dollar budgets. DR Congo’s TP Mazembe, he pointed out, even owns private jets; an indication of the scale of investment behind the club.
Against those numbers, Ghana’s traditional giants are playing an entirely different game.
“How do you compete with clubs like these when you’re working with around half a million dollars?” he asked.
The disparity extends beyond club budgets.
Akoto Boafo revealed that clubs in Tanzania, including Young Africans and Simba SC, are paying Ghanaian players signing-on fees between $30,000 and $50,000 before salaries are even discussed.
Meanwhile, he noted, some Ghanaian clubs struggle to afford monthly salaries of just $2,000 for a handful of players.
“You say you’re the same size as Yanga, Simba, Al Ahly or Pyramids, but they’ve blown you out of the water,” he said.
For him, African football has changed dramatically.
The clubs dominating continental competitions are no longer succeeding simply because of tradition or superior coaching. They are succeeding because they invest heavily in infrastructure, player recruitment and wages.
“If you’re unwilling to spend the money, you’re not going to compete with anybody”, he added.
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