Football clubs are massive businesses. Their success is often determined by trophies, but the financial element of modern-day football is impossible to ignore.
Tens, or even hundreds, of millions of pounds are thrown around in transfer fees, and that’s before we even get to the cost of wages.
The Richest Football Clubs In Africa:
- Al-Ahly - £25.3 million
- Mamelodi Sundowns - £23.3 million
- Pyramids FC - £17.4 million
- Orlando Pirates - £16.9 million
- Zamalek Sporting Club - £16.6 million
- Wydad Casablanca - £16.4 million
- Esperance Tunis - £16.1 million
- Kaizer Chiefs - £12.2 million
- USM Alger - £8.8 million
- AmaZulu Football Club - £8.2 million
Naturally, the teams which are favoured in outright sports betting markets tend to be worth more money. There is a correlation between on-field success and revenue, even if it is not always that simple.
Here are the valuations of the richest African football clubs, according to Sports Brief…
10) AmaZulu Football Club
Durban-based club AmaZulu have a stadium with a capacity of over 50,000, which contributes to their sizeable value.
The 2020-21 season saw AmaZulu enjoy their best league finish since the PSL was founded, as they placed runners up behind Mamelodi Sundowns.
The club was coached by South African football icon Benny McCarthy between December 2020 and March 2022.
9) USM Alger
Eight-time champions of Algeria, USM Alger are one of the country’s most successful clubs.
They have also won the main domestic cup on eight occasions, and they were runners up in the CAF Champions League in 2015.
Nicknamed L'Ittihad, USM Alger wear black and red in memory of 45,000 Algerian protestors killed by the French Armed Forces at the end of the Second World War.
8) Kaizer Chiefs
Lucas Radebe, one of the best African players in Premier League history, started his career with Kaizer Chiefs, who are South Africa’s most successful and best-supported football club.
Tens of millions of people around Southern Africa support the Kaizer Chiefs.
Their attendances are frequently the best in South Africa, while their logo and kits have become iconic around Europe.
You will see a surprising number of Kaizer Chiefs shirts worn in the UK, which is a testament to the reach of the club beyond their loyal fans in Johannesburg.
7) Esperance Tunis
Founded over a century ago, Esperance Tunis are one of Africa’s most decorated football teams.
The Tunisian outfit have amassed a whopping 32 league titles, accompanied by four Champions League wins. They are one of Africa’s biggest clubs.
By far Tunisia’s most well-known club, Esperance Tunis have been a force on the continent for several decades, and have frequently dominated the topflight of Tunisian football.
Even if you’re not familiar with this team, you might recognise their famous red and yellow kits.
6) Wydad Casablanca
One of three teams to have never been relegated from the Botola Pro, Wydad Casablanca have won more Moroccan league titles than any other team.
They reached their sixth CAF Champions League final in 2023, but had to settle for runners up after lifting the trophy for a third time in 2022.
Wydad’s fans often hit headlines around the world for their spectacular Tifo showings and incredible atmosphere.
Look out for the Ultra Winners 2005 going viral in the coming years, particularly if the club continue to compete for continental silverware.
5) Zamalek Sporting Club
One half of the Cairo derby, which ranks among the biggest rivalries in world football, Zamalek are multi-time champions of Africa and have collected 14 Egyptian league titles.
Their ultras, the Ultras White Knights, frequently put on pyrotechnic displays.
Zalamek attracts significant interest from around the world, which has resulted in several documentaries being made about The Royal Club.
Several players have featured for Zamalek before or after stints in Europe, including one-season wonder Mido, who began his career with the club and had two other stints before retirement.
4) Orlando Pirates
Winners of nine league titles and 36 trophies overall, the Orlando Pirates are a huge club in South Africa.
The Buccaneers won the CAF Champions League in 1995, and play their matches at the 37,139-capacity Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.
Massive rivals with Kaizer Chiefs, the Pirates have been a bit short on success in recent years, yet they have generally remained competitive domestically.
They had a period of dominance in the early 2010s, including unprecedented back-to-back trebles.
3) Pyramids FC
Founded as Al Assiouty Sport in 2008, the club was moved over 250 miles and changed its name to Pyramids FC in 2018.
After making the move to Cairo, Pyramids quickly became Egypt’s third-best team, and even finished second in the league in 2021-22.
While still in the shadow of Zamalek and Al-Ahly, Pyramids have trended in the right direction in recent years, contributing to this hefty valuation.
They were also managed by former Argentina Rodolfo Arruabarrena for a period.
2) Mamelodi Sundowns
One of four clubs to have featured in football betting for every season of the South African Premier Division, Mamelodi Sundowns have won a record 13 league titles since the league was founded in 1996.
Known for a commitment to attacking play, the Sundowns were the first South African team to compete in the Club World Cup after winning the CAF Champions League in 2016.
They were named African Club of the Year in 2016, too, and have reached the last four of the Champions League twice since then.
Utterly dominant domestically over the last decade, the Sundowns might not be as well known as the Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates, but they have been far the superior club of late.
Don’t be surprised if we some of their Brazil-style shirts on show in Europe in the coming years.
1) Al-Ahly
Sitting atop the list of the most successful football clubs in the world, it’s no surprise to see Al-Ahly as the unofficial richest club in Africa.
They have won 42 league titles. Only one other club has been crowned Egyptian champions more than three times.
Also 12-time champions of Africa, Al-Ahly have been the pre-eminent team in African football since the turn of the century - adding their 12th crown in May 2024.
Mohamed Elneny, Hossam Ghaly, and Ramadan Sobhi are just three players who started their career in Al-Ahly’s academy before making their names in Europe.
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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
