Hussein Mohammed: Integrity and strong leadership crucial for clubs to attract sponsors

Speaking during the opening of the Africa Football Business Summit 2025 in Mombasa on Thursday, Mohammed emphasized that accountability and professionalism are the foundation for building investor confidence in the sport.

“What sponsors are looking for from us is value for their investment,” said Hussein. “We have to build a strong foundation and demonstrate good leadership skills in our teams to inspire confidence among potential sponsors. It’s a win-win situation for both parties—if we deliver what they expect, we’ll definitely attract more sponsorships.”

The FKF president also urged African nations to unite in addressing the challenges facing football across the continent, noting that better governance and stronger collaboration could help Africa reach the same standards as more developed footballing nations.

“It’s important for us in Africa to fix what has held us back, especially in leadership, so we can restore football to where it belongs,” he added. “We need investors to come on board and support football development right from the grassroots.”

Meanwhile, Marlon Glean, President of the Grenada Football Association, praised Africa’s vast football potential, saying the continent could dominate global football if proper systems are put in place.

“Our governments—across Africa and the Caribbean—are working to enhance travel and tourism between our regions, but we must extend that collaboration to football,” said Glean.

“We’ve seen nations like Ghana, Nigeria, and Morocco excel on the world stage. With 79 African and Caribbean members in FIFA, there’s no reason we can’t dominate the global football scene. It’s time for our regions to stand together.”

According to Data Africa, African countries contribute nearly 20% of players currently featuring in European football clubs—a testament to the continent’s immense talent pool.

On his part, Brian Wesaala, Founder and CEO of the Africa Football Business Summit, urged African nations to turn their challenges into opportunities for growth in the sport.

“Our focus is on capacity building,” said Wesaala. “Yes, there are challenges in collaboration among stakeholders, but together we can achieve more. Africa’s challenges are, in fact, opportunities for growth.”

The two-day summit has brought together key football stakeholders from across the continent to discuss ways of transforming African football through better governance, partnerships, and investment.