African sport facing pivotal decade as countries pursue its industrial development

Countries across the continent are increasingly ambitious in their engagements with sport

In December this year, it is highly likely that Morocco will be confirmed as a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Meantime, strong rumours indicate that Rwanda will secure the right to begin staging Formula 1 grand prix races.

Whilst Egypt has expressed an interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Earlier this year, a book was published in which African sport experts highlight why in the coming decades the industry will begin to grow.

Among the reasons for this are the fast-growing economies of several African nations, natural resource wealth, large GenZ populations (which account for up to seventy percent of total population in some countries) that are digitally savvy and entrepreneurially minded, and inward investment from countries including China and Saudi Arabia.

Already, we have seen significant sports infrastructural projects being undertaken, indeed Morocco is about to embark upon construction of the world’s biggest football stadium, the intention being that it will stage the final match of the 2030 World Cup.

We have also seen Chinese corporations engaging with African nations; for instance, Huawei instigated its 5G network rollout across the continent by becoming a sponsor of the Cup of Nations football tournament.

These all represent an intriguing set of developments, especially as the world pivots from Global North to Global South, and international policy makers begin to think in terms of AfroEurasian sport.

In turn, this raises all manner of issue ranging from the capacity and competence of African nations to secure the potential opportunities ahead, through to the role that domestic ecosystems and foreign investors will play in building and sustaining the sport industry’s continental growth.

Exciting times seemingly ahead, though the route forwards will require good policies, clever strategy, and accomplished leadership and management.