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Africa Game Time

ASCI Unveils Promo Video for Upcoming Sports Industry Summit

Olivia Rhye
20 Jan 2025

April 2025

The African Sports and Creative Institute (ASCI) has released a 30-second promotional video ahead of its much-anticipated Africa Game Time Summit 2026. The video offers a dynamic preview of key themes, including innovation, investment, and youth engagement in Africa’s rapidly growing sports ecosystem.

Watch the promo here: https://youtu.be/5UnMuWCcZco?si=7AQ6-rcQLEcm_Z7e

Stay tuned for more updates as we count down to a milestone gathering of industry leaders, investors, athletes, and visionaries shaping the future of the African sports business.

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Mr. Zidane Karim

Minister of Investments, Convergence, and Evaluation of Public Policies

Mr. Karim Zidane was appointed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, on Wednesday, October 23,2024, as Minister Delegate to the Head of Government, responsible for Investment, Convergence, and the Evaluation of Public Policies.
With a solid experience in both the public and private sectors, Mr. Karim Zidane has demonstrated deep expertise in leading strategic projects, coordinating multisectoral initiatives, and building high-level partnerships.
A graduate of prestigious national and international institutions, he brings over twenty years of experience managing complex economic portfolios, with a particular focus on sustainable growth policies and attracting foreign investment to Morocco.
Before his ministerial appointment, Karim Zidane held senior positions within prominent international organizations, where he played a vital role in designing and implementing strategies for international cooperation and development, driven by his recognized expertise and commitment to innovation.

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Simon Tiemtoré

Lilium Capital CEO

Simon Tiemtoré is an American businessman originally from Burkina Faso. He is one of the leading investors in Burkina Faso and West Africa through his company, Lilium Capital, headquartered in New York.
After studying law in Burkina Faso, he continued at American University and NYU School of Law, later working as a tax and corporate lawyer at Staden Harps, PwC, and Morgan Stanley. In 2012, he joined the African Import-Export Bank in Cairo, before co-founding Lilium Capital with Didier Nkieré. As head of Lilium Capital, he acquired and developed several banks and businesses across West Africa, including Vista Bank Group, Ayka Textile, and a pharmaceutical company in Ouagadougou. He also expanded the group’s presence in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Congo, financing major projects such as the future government city of Brazzaville.
In addition to his business ventures, Tiemtoré actively supports sports development. In 2025, Vista Group signed a major partnership with the USFA, the Burkinabé army sports club, investing in infrastructure, training, and youth programs to professionalize the teams and support education for young athletes.

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Moïse Katumbi

Congolese Sports Leader and Politician

Moïse Katumbi Chapwe is a Congolese businessman, politician, and sports executive, best known as the long-time president of Tout Puissant Mazembe (TP Mazembe), one of Africa’s most successful football clubs. Since taking over in 1997, he has transformed the club into a continental powerhouse, winning multiple CAF Champions League titles and reaching the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup final. He also founded the Katumbi Football Academy, nurturing young African talent, and has served on FIFA’s Strategic Committee since 2012. Under his leadership, TP Mazembe became the first non-European or South American club to reach the Club World Cup final. Katumbi’s vision combines elite football development with strong organizational management, earning him recognition as one of Africa’s top sports executives, including the 2020 CAF Award for Best African Club Leader.
Beyond sports, Katumbi has been a major figure in Congolese politics. He served as governor of the Katanga province from 2007 to 2015, initiated significant infrastructure and social programs, and founded the political party Ensemble pour la République. He has run for president and remains a leading voice in the opposition, advocating for democracy, good governance, and development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Francis Ngannou

MMA Champion, Heavyweight Titleholder, and PFL Africa Chairman

Francis Ngannou is a Cameroonian MMA icon and a leading figure in the global sports industry, bridging high-level performance with strategic governance.
After reigning as UFC Heavyweight Champion, Ngannou joined the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in 2023 under a landmark agreement that reshaped fighter economics. Beyond competing in PFL Super Fights, he was appointed Chairman of PFL Africa, playing a central role in the league’s expansion strategy across the continent. His involvement reflects a broader vision to structure, professionalize, and globalize African combat sports ecosystems.
In October 2024, Ngannou captured the PFL Heavyweight Championship, reinforcing his position as one of the most influential figures in modern combat sports. Through his leadership role and foundation initiatives, he actively contributes to talent development, infrastructure, and access to combat sports in Africa.

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Gelson Fernandes

Football Legend – FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer and Director of Member Associations Africa

Gelson Fernandes is a former Swiss international born in Cape Verde, who transitioned to a key role at FIFA, serving as Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer and Director of Member Associations Africa, focusing on developing football in Africa after a career with clubs like Manchester City and representing Switzerland at three World Cups. He joined FIFA in 2022, leveraging his playing experience to support African football, returning to his roots to give back to the continent where he began his journey.

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Hamza Kabbaj

General Manager, SGTM, Morocco

Hamza Kabbaj is the General Manager at SGTM, a leading Moroccan construction and civil engineering group involved in the development of major infrastructure projects across the Kingdom.
Under his leadership, SGTM has been actively involved in the construction of large-scale and strategic infrastructures, including mega sports facilities such as the Stade Moulay Abdellah, an emblematic project contributing to Morocco’s urban development and international sporting ambitions. Mr. Kabbaj’s work focuses on the delivery of complex, high-impact infrastructure, positioning SGTM as a key player in Morocco’s infrastructure and sports economy ecosystem.

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Alexandre Song

Football Legend and Entrepreneur

Alex Song is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for top clubs including Arsenal, Barcelona as well as the Cameroon national team, participating in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups and multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Since retiring from professional football, Song has turned his focus to entrepreneurship and community development in Cameroon. He is involved in projects such as the Canadian International School and College in Douala and has invested in real estate and construction ventures. Through these initiatives, he aims to support youth development, education, and local economic growth, applying lessons from his football career to broader social impact.

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Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor

Football Legend & Sports Development Investor

Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a former professional footballer who played as a forward for clubs including Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the Togo national team. Known for his speed, technical skill, and goal-scoring ability, Adebayor had a prolific career across Europe’s top leagues.
Since retiring, Adebayor has turned his focus to investing in sports development in Africa. In March 2025, he met with Roland Somda, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Sports, to present an ambitious plan for a high-level football academy in the country. The project aims to provide modern training facilities, medical support, expert coaching, and holistic education for young athletes, following international standards. Adebayor’s initiative seeks to nurture the next generation of African football talent and strengthen the sports ecosystem in West Africa. By leveraging his professional experience and international network, he hopes to inspire similar investments across the continent, making football development more structured, accessible, and impactful.

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Badr Hari

Kickboxing Legend – Punch Founder and CEO

Badr Hari is a former heavyweight kickboxer and sports entrepreneur. A multiple-time world champion in kickboxing, Hari has transitioned from competition to investing in sports development, with a focus on Morocco.
He is the founder of “Punch” boxing studios, a network of gyms designed to develop young talent, provide high-quality training, and make sports accessible to a wider audience. His vision combines professional athletic standards with affordable access, contributing to the growth of the sports economy and creating opportunities for youth and local communities. Hari plans to expand the network in the coming years, reinforcing his long-term commitment to sports entrepreneurship and social impact in Morocco.

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Dadju Djuna Nsungula

Artist and Founder Mansa Holding

Dadju (full name Dadju Djuna Nsungula) is a French-Congolese singer, rapper, songwriter and entrepreneur. He began his career in 2012 as one half of the duo The Shin Sekaï with Abou Tall and later launched a successful solo career with his debut album Gentleman 2.0 in 2017, featuring the hit Reine.
Dadju followed up with the albums Poison ou Antidote (2019) and Cullinan (2022), and in 2024 released the collaborative album Héritage with Tayc. His music blends R&B, pop and urban influences and has earned him multiple NRJ Music Awards. Beyond music, Dadju has expanded into entrepreneurship and lifestyle ventures. In late 2025, he opened his first padel club in Dubai, Padel One, marking his entry into sports-related business projects. The launch event drew high-profile guests including Kylian Mbappé, Francis Ngannou and the Hernandez brothers, highlighting his influence beyond the music industry.

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Tarik Belghazi

CEO TBB E-Corp

Tarik Belghazi is an entrepreneur and investor in esports, active across the Africa and MENA markets. He is Investor & CEO of TBB E-Corp, a structure dedicated to the development of competitive teams and esports ecosystems, with a strong focus on performance and professional structuring.
Under his leadership, his teams have brought Morocco onto the international esports stage, notably through a Back-to-Back MENA Championship and a world final appearance at the Free Fire World Series 2022, demonstrating his ability to build sustainable and competitive esports projects at a global level.
Drawing on his background in international private banking and investment strategy, Tarik Belghazi brings to esports a distinctive approach combining long-term vision, governance, financial discipline, and talent structuring, contributing to the professionalization of the esports sector in Africa.

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Greg Carey

Chairman of Public Finance and Global Co-Head of Sports Franchise Goldman Sachs

Greg Carey is Chairman of Goldman Sachs’ Public Sector and Infrastructure Group, where he focuses on the firm’s national infrastructure practice, with specific expertise in sports finance and advisory, project finance, and surface transportation. He has led numerous landmark transactions, with seven of his team’s deals recognized as Institutional Investor or Project Finance “Deal of the Year.” He joined Goldman Sachs as a Managing Director in 2004, following a 22-year career at Citigroup where he co-headed the firm’s infrastructure group. In addition to his banking roles, he is Vice Chair of the Tisch Center Advisory Board at New York University and previously taught a course on the business of sports facilities at NYU. He holds an AB in Economics from Harvard College.

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Fred Whitfield

Ex Charlotte Hornets President NBA Owner

Fred Whitfield is a senior sports executive and business leader. He served as President, Chief Operating Officer, Vice Chairman, Alternate Governor, and minority owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. Appointed in 2006, he has overseen the franchise’s business operations, strategic partnerships, and major venue developments, including significant renovations to Spectrum Center. He has played a central role in securing and delivering major national and international events, as well as long-term commercial agreements in ticketing, media rights, and venue naming. Previously, he held senior roles across professional sports, brand management, and legal affairs, including with the Jordan Brand, Nike Basketball, and the Washington Wizards. He is widely recognized for his leadership in sports business and governance.

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Constant NEMALE

Founder & Chairman AFRICA24 Group

A proud Cameroonian, Constant Nemale is a journalist and editor in chief by trade. He notably wrote his friend Michael Jordan biography in 1999. He inspired the creation of several projects in the world of communications: the first Afro-European and Pan-African television channel, named at 3A TELESUD, ETNIUM as the first ethnic marketing & communication agency in France in 2001; just before launching AFRICA24 in November 2008.
The whole AFRICA24 meaning stands in our motto “World News for Africa. Africa News for the World”. AFRICA24 is simply the first ever news channel broadcasting 24/7 news about the entire African continent. AFRICA24 Sport promotes and broadcast africa sports championship

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Eni Aluko OLY

Football Legend - Investor

Eniola Aluko is a former professional footballer who played for Chelsea, Juventus and England Lionesses making 104 appearances over 11 years and playing for Great Britain in 2012 London Olympics.
She leads a multi-hyphenate career after graduating from Brunel University with a First class honors in Law (LLB) and qualified as a UK Sports and Entertainment solicitor. She is a football broadcaster and football business executive leading the way with executive roles as the first sporting director at Angel City FC in Los Angeles and now an investor and adviser at multi women’s club ownership investment group Mercury 13. Eni became the first ever black female to own shares in an Italian football club. She was honoured by His Royal Highness Prince William with an MBE in November 2023.

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Aida Diarra

Ex VISA SSA Senior Vice President

Aida Diarra is a transformative leader whose career spans more than a quarter-century at the intersection of finance, technology, and social impact. As Former Senior Vice President for Subsaharan Africa and now founder of Adia & Dias Consulting limited, Aida's unwavering commitment to social impact is a beacon to many in the continent and beyond. She channels her passion and expertise into empowering millions across Africa, championing initiatives that unlock opportunity, foster innovation, and drive inclusive growth.
Born and raised in West Africa, Aida’s journey is rooted in a deep understanding of the continent’s challenges and its immense potential. Her early experiences inspired a lifelong commitment to bridging the gaps in access to financial services, education, and economic opportunities. Guided by this purpose, Aida has built a legacy of impact in senior roles at global organizations.

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Mr. Federico Bonaglia

Deputy Director, the OECD Development Centre

In this capacity, Federico supports the Director in establishing the strategic directions and implementing the Programme of Work of the OECD Development Centre (www.oecd.org/dev), ensuring that the Centre’s analysis and advice remain at the forefront of policy thinking and produce tangible results.
Federico provides leadership to strengthen the Development Centre’s engagement with its 54 member countries, notably by managing the Centre’s Governing Board, and to increase the impact of the Centre’s work.
Federico oversees the Development Centre’s work with Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as thematic areas of work such as social inclusion, gender equality, migration and development. Federico is also the Head of Delegation for the OECD to the G20 Development Working Group. An economist by training, Federico holds a master’s degree in economics and social sciences (Discipline Economiche e Sociali) from Bocconi University (1997) and a master’s in economics (1999) from the same University.
Federico joined the OECD Development Centre in 1999. At the OECD, he has been involved and led several projects on the economic and institutional consequences of globalisation for developing countries in Africa, South-East Asia, Central America, the Black Sea and Central Asia. In 2008-09, he was seconded to Italy’s Prime Minister’s Office to lead the sustainable development and outreach aspects of the G8 La Maddalena-Aquila Leaders’ Summit. In this capacity he played a key role in the design of the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative. Some of his more recent achievements include the design of the G20 Platform on SDG Localisation and Intermediary Cities, endorsed by G20 Leaders in 2021, and the African-Union-OECD African virtual Investment Platform, endorsed by G7 leaders in 2024.

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Elias Schulze

General Manager of PFL Africa

Elias Schulze is the General Manager of PFL Africa, leading the league’s launch and expansion across the continent. A seasoned strategist, operator, and entrepreneur, he brings over 15 years of experience in strategy, finance, and operations across more than 20 African markets. Schulze previously co-founded Kana Television, Ethiopia’s leading TV network acquired by Canal+, and served as co-founder and Africa CEO of Kaymu (Jumia Group), scaling the business across 17 markets. Earlier, he worked with McKinsey & Company in Africa and the Middle East and began his career in private equity with Emerging Capital Partners. He also serves on the board of the Medical Benevolence Foundation, advises Cauris Finance, and is Managing Partner of The Africa Group.

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Amadou Fall

BAL President

Amadou Gallo Fall is the President of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), leading the historic league's vision and business/basketball operations. A key figure in the growth of basketball in Africa, his career spans both team management and league-wide development. In 1998, as a graduate student from Senegal and studying in the United States, Fall founded SEED Project (Sports for Education and Economic Development) a non-profit organisation serving more than 2,000 students weekly across Senegal, The Gambia and the USA to ensure that youth have access to a quality education, high performance sports training, and the leadership tools to make big dreams come true.

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Fouzia Madhouni

NFL Ambassador

Fouzia Madhouni is an NFL and IFAF flag football ambassador in Morocco, known for empowering women and girls through sports. She is the founder of the non-profit "We Can Morocco" and the first female professional African player of American football. Through her work, she coaches nationally and internationally, helps create an environment for women's football, and collaborates with the NFL on initiatives to advance the sport.

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Yassine Haddaoui

CDG Invest, CEO

Since February 2019, Yassine Haddaoui has been the CEO of CDG Invest, the investment arm of Morocco largest financial institution CDG group.
After beginning his career as a corporate finance analyst at CFG Bank, he joined the CDG Group in 2004. In October 2010, he was appointed Director of Strategy and Development at the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG). During this tenure, he led several strategic plans in which the CDG Group began to shift its focus from operator to expert, co-financier, and investor. Yassine Haddaoui is also a member of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee of several portfolio companies.
Yassine Haddaoui graduated from ISCAE (1999) and Sciences Po Paris (2004). He also holds a postgraduate degree (DESS) in financial engineering from Paris XII University (2000).

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Brian Ratzliff

Global Sports & Events Managing Partner

Mr Ratzliff is the managing partner at Global Sports & Events (GSE). GSE is a leader in crafting unique events and experiences (sports tourism) empowering athletes to grow on and off the field. With 30+ years of expertise and a sprawling global network, GSE has delivered hundreds of world-class events, from collegiate to amateur athletics. A powerhouse in sports tourism, their mission is to Elevate the athlete journey and keep sports a force for good. Brian holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, Canada, where he graduated Dean’s List and a BA from Trinity Western University in Vancouver, Canada where he played varsity basketball.

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Pierre Trochet

President International Federation of American Football - IFAF

Pierre Trochet is President of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF.) Now in his second term, he remains the second-youngest global leader of an Olympic sport and the first millennial to achieve the distinction.
A former offensive lineman-turned-tech entrepreneur in his native France, Pierre oversees the global governance of American football, including both the flag and tackle football disciplines, with a network of 75 national member federations spanning every continent.
Much of this success is underpinned by the transformation of the federation’s relationship with the NFL under Pierre’s leadership. American football’s primary professional league, always an important stakeholder, now serves as a true strategic partner, represented on the IFAF Board, and with flag football – the sport’s most accessible and inclusive format – the cornerstone of joint grassroots development efforts around the world.
Of all Pierre’s achievements at IFAF, undoubtedly the greatest structural impact has come through full IOC recognition – the product of a rigorous, 360° governance assessment in 2023 – and the parallel success of an audacious campaign for flag football’s historic inclusion in the LA28 Olympic Games.
Determined to maximize the game-changing opportunities ahead, Pierre now has the unique privilege of helping to navigate an unprecedented union between two superpowers of global sport. He is passionate about pioneering a new model of collaboration between commercial sports leagues and the Olympic movement.

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Osi Umenyiora

2-time Superbowl Champion & NFL Ambassador

Nigerian Osi Umenyiora is a two-time Super Bowl winning defensive end with the New York Giants and a two-time winner in the prestigious Royal Television Society Awards for his work on BBC Television in the UK. In 2015, he returned to London, becoming an NFL Ambassador and working as an analyst for BBC TV’s coverage of the NFL. He co-hosts "The Jason & Osi Podcast" and co-presents for the NFL Show on ITV, both with fellow NFL alum, Jason Bell. He has twice been named as Best Sports/Presenter/Analyst in the Royal Television Society Awards (2017 and 2019) and was named as Sports Pundit of the Year for 2018 in the Sports Journalists’ Association Broadcast Awards. He also created, and continues to oversee, the International Pathway Program (IPP) and the NFL Academy.
In 2021 Osi founded scouting camps in Nigeria which focus on finding talent for the IPP and The Academy for the NFL in both the US and UK, respectively. The camps, through his program The Uprise, have continued to expand across Africa annually. In 2021 he also created and spearheaded the creation of NFL Africa, which he continues to run.

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Rene Awambeng

Founder and Managing Partner of Premier Invest

René Awambeng is a seasoned corporate and investment banker with three decades of experience spanning Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. Over his distinguished career, he has structured, led, and driven more than US $8 billion in revenues and facilitated transactions exceeding US $300 billion across diverse sectors, including energy, trade-enabling infrastructure, commodities, and financial services for wholesale corporate clients. He served as Global Head of Client Relations at the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), where over eight years he was instrumental in growing the balance sheet and profitability, strengthening strategic partnerships, and advancing the Bank’s mandate to promote intra-African trade across member states and global markets.
Premier Investment Holdings Limited (PIHL), trading as Premier Invest, is a financial services holding company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, comprising 3 dynamic subsidiaries — banking, fund management and advisory, and commodity trading — and developing Africa first sports infrastructure fund.

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Amina Lanaya

UCI Director General Tchamba

Amina Lanaya has been the Director General of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) since September 2017.
With French, Moroccan and Swiss nationality, she is the first woman to occupy the post since the Federation was founded in 1900. She is also one of the few female executives in charge of an international sports federation.
A qualified lawyer, she worked with international law firms in Paris, France, before moving to Switzerland in 2003 and joining the UCI in 2006. After working in the UCI’s Legal Department, in particular in anti-doping, she became the Federation’s deputy Director General (September 2013) before moving to her current position. She now heads up a team of around 130 people.
Passionate about sport, Amina Lanaya is also a committed supporter of causes such as the promotion of women and diversity in sport and governance, the protection of integrity at all levels, and sustainable development.
When she has time, she makes the most of the UCI’s superb facilities and surroundings to ride her bike.

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Mr. Khalid Safir

Chief Executive Officer of the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG) Morocco

Born in 1967 in Settat, 85 km from Casablanca, Safir graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique de Paris in 1991. In 1995, Safir joined the Ministry of Finance as a research officer, before becoming a director in the same department in 1998. In 2006, Safir was appointed Governor of Casablanca’s al Fida-Mers Sultan Prefecture, then of Casablanca-Anfa Prefecture in 2009. From 2011 to 2013, Safir held the position of Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. On October 2013, King Mohammed VI appointed Safir as the Wali of the Casablanca Region and Governor of the Casablanca Prefecture. In 2015, he then joined Morocco premiere financial institution CDG as Chief Executive Officer.

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Yasser Shaker

Executive Vice President, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa

Yasser Shaker is a seasoned telecom executive and visionary leader who currently serves as Executive Vice President and CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) since July 1, 2025. Yasser Shaker. He also holds several positions of Chairman of the board. With more than 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Yasser brings a powerful blend of strategic insight, operational rigor, and a strong commitment to digital inclusion and innovation. From 2018 to 2025, Yasser served as CEO of Orange Egypt, during a particularly challenging period and successfully led a major turnaround, reviving growth, restoring profitability, and strengthening OEG’s market position, serving now over 33 million customers. With 28 years of telecom experience, Yasser combines multinational corporate and country-level expertise. Passionate about youth development, he currently serves as chairman & board member of several universities & organizations. A telecom engineer with an MBA, he speaks four languages.

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Mr Tresor Penku

LALIGA Africa Managing Director

Born in Cameroon, Tresor Penku boasts a diverse academic background with degrees in Marketing (ESERP Business School Madrid), Management (Staffordshire University), and a master’s in Sports Management. He also holds certifications in sports sponsorship, strategy, and digital marketing from top institutions like Barca Innovation Hub and IE Business School.
In 2010, Trésor joined Edusport in Spain, driving marketing and sports projects. By 2014, he was CEO at Soccer Live Academy, training young talents globally. His career includes roles at Premium Fitness Club Holmes Place and L'Oréal Spain.
In 2018, Trésor became LaLiga's International Business Development Consultant for Central Africa, expanding LALIGA’s presence in countries including DR Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Cameroon. Since 2023, he leads LALIGA’s activities in Africa as Managing Director, based in Johannesburg.
Trésor’s journey is one of dedication and innovation, believing in sports as a catalyst for growth and success.

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Abdou Diop

Forvis Mazars Managing Director

Mr. Abdou Diop is Managing Partner of Mazars Audit & Conseil, an international audit and consulting firm. For over 25 years, he has been providing consulting and audit services in Morocco and across Africa, working with public-interest companies (large, public or private), international donors, and governments (Burkina Faso, Comoros, Mauritania, Burundi, Senegal, Madagascar, etc.) on issues related to strategy, sectoral reforms, and development policies. He also supports the development of numerous Moroccan companies on the African continent, including banks (Attijariwafa Bank, Banque Centrale Populaire), insurance companies (RMA), telecom operators (Maroc Telecom), manufacturers (Plastima), and real estate operators (Palmeraie Holding, AGI, etc.).

Abdou Diop previously served as President of the Africa and South-South Commission of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM). He coordinated the activities of the Economic Impulse Groups, notably Morocco-Ivory Coast and Morocco-Senegal. He was also responsible for implementing actions to improve the legal and fiscal framework for cooperation between Morocco and other African and Southern countries, as well as supporting and structuring development and BtoB actions between Moroccan companies and Southern companies. Mr. Diop is also regularly sought after for his expertise in numerous economic sectors and his knowledge of the African continent to provide insights through articles and publications. He also acts as a panelist and moderator in national and international forums and conferences.

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Mouad Hajji

World Cup 2030 Lead

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Desire Koussawo

SAGES Africa Founder and CEO

A prominent figure in the French gaming community and beyond, Désiré was the Managing Director of ESL France and is the cofounder and honorary president of the Futurolan Association, which organizes Gamers Assembly, France's largest LAN party. Currently serving as President of the France Esports Association, he is deeply committed to advancing esports at all levels, from local to global. Through his latest venture, SAGES Africa, Désiré has been instrumental in shaping the future of esports in Africa since 2019.

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Adama Gaye

Orange Ventures , Head of Investment for Africa

As the Lead for Middle East and Africa at Orange Ventures, Adama Gaye plays a pivotal role in managing the corporate venture capital arm of Orange Group, which oversees €350 million in assets, including €50 million dedicated to the MEA region. By leveraging Orange Group's expertise, networks, and capital on the continent, Orange Ventures accelerates the growth and expansion of businesses, propelling them towards global success.

Adama Gaye is a graduate of Sciences Po Paris (France). With over a decade of experience in Africa, including business development roles at Saint-Gobain and strategic positions at Orange MEA, Adama joined Orange Ventures in 2024. Adama has also worked within the United Nations organization in New York for the Mauritanian Ambassador and for Hubert Vedrine, the former Foreign Minister of France.

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Dr Yasmine Alaoui

Principal, Gratiya Africa

Yasmine Alaoui is a university lecturer and senior consultant specializing in governance, attractiveness and territorial marketing. She holds a doctorate in economics and management, as well as specialized diplomas in territorial marketing and public management (IMPGT Aix-en-Provence, Aix-Marseille Université/SciencePo, ENCG).
She is a member of the executive board of the Observatoire de la Protection de l'Environnement et des Monuments Historique de la ville de TANGER/Doctoral thesis on territorial identity. She has advised on numerous territorial marketing projects in Morocco (Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakech, Oujda, Dakhla) as well as in France, Spain and West Africa. Her expertise covers market studies, diagnostics, strategies, operational plans and evaluations.

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Ibrahim Sagna

Silverbacks Holdings Executive Chairman

Ibrahim Sagna is the Executive Chairman of Silverbacks Holdings, a private investment firm focused on tech, entertainment, and sports, with nine profitable exits since 2019.
Silverbacks' landmark investments include Uber backed Moove, Stripe backed Wave Mobile Money, Netflix movies producer Forever7 Entertainment, Stake sponsored African Warriors Fighting Championship (AWFC), and the NBA Africa tournament participating basketball team, Cape Town Tigers. He serves on several boards and hosts the "IN THE VALLEY" business podcast. His 30 year career includes high finance roles at IMF, Africa Finance Corporation, Afreximbank, Rwanda Capital Markets Authority, Millennium and ECP. He holds degrees from Boston College, INSEAD, LBS, and HBS.

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Ronny Turiaf

NBA Champion, Investor, EVP Strategy Owner Sporting Club Escaldes

Ronny Turiaf is a retired French former professional basketball player who played 10 seasons in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, and Minnesota Timberwolves, winning an NBA championship in 2012 with the Heat. Turiaf was a member of the French national team and was inducted into the French Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.
From NBA champion to cultural entrepreneur, his journey is a constant exploration of performance, identity, and transformation. Today, he supports athletes, creatives, and leaders in their life transitions—whether it's reinventing themselves, launching a meaningful project, or rediscovering their inner alignment.
As the founder of Maison Verveau, a creative retreat surrounded by nature, he creates spaces conducive to reflection, connection, and transformation. I also advise brands, institutions, and individuals on human dynamics, strategy, and impact.

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Paulo Gomes

Orango Investment Founder & CEO

Paulo Gomes is a global business leader, active environmentalist and a key political actor in Guinea Bissau.

His constant search for how to reposition the country and help it become stable and prosperous is what led him to initiate the Bissau Economic Forum now in its second edition. The forum is a bi-annual discussion and investment forum on cooperation and the economic transformation of the country with all stakeholders from civil society, private sector and the government in order to attract foreign investment as well as create employment.

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David Mignot

Canal+ Africa CEO

David Mignot is a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications and holds a DEA (postgraduate degree) in Economics from Paris Dauphine University.
He began his career in 1996 at the consulting firm Bossard Gemini Consulting, specializing in the Pay TV and Telecom sectors.
Founder and CEO of Parabole Réunion from 1999 to 2008, David Mignot then joined the Outremer Telecom Group as Deputy CEO in charge of the Indian Ocean region, restoring profitability and successfully implementing mobile offerings. In 2011, David Mignot joined the Canal+ Group as Project Director in charge of the strategic plan.
Since June 2013, David Mignot has been CEO of CANAL+ INTERNATIONAL for Africa.

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Clare Akamanzi

NBA Africa CEO

As CEO of NBA Africa, Clare Akamanzi oversees the NBA’s business and basketball development efforts across the continent. She is responsible for growing the popularity of basketball, the NBA, and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) through grassroots development, media distribution, corporate partnerships, and social responsibility initiatives that enhance the livelihoods of African youth and families.

Before joining NBA Africa in January 2024, Akamanzi served as CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) for six and a half years, driving Rwanda’s economic development through private sector growth.

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Cyril Gane

MMA Star and Lori6Ventures President

Cyril "Bon Gamin" Gane is a French professional mixed martial artist, investor and actor, who currently competes in the UFC's heavyweight division, where he is a former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion and currently ranked #1. Gane started in Muay Thai, winning the national title before transitioning to MMA in 2018. He quickly rose to prominence, becoming the TKO Heavyweight Champion and later joining the UFC in 2019, where he won the interim heavyweight title in 2021. Outside the Octagon, Ciryl has co-founded ARES Fighting Championship and continues to make impactful strides in sports, technology, and media through his Family Office, LORI6 Ventures.

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Remy Rioux

AFD Group CEO

An expert in economics and international financial institutions, Rémy Rioux has held high-level positions in a career devoted to development, Africa and the French economy. After serving as Chief of Staff of the French Economy and Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici, he was appointed by Laurent Fabius as Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and coordinated the finance agenda for the French Presidency of COP21, up to the final negotiation of the Paris Agreement.

In 2024, he was mandated by the French President, Emmanuel Macron, and the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, to organize the first International Summit on Sport for Sustainable Development, on the eve of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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Marc Lasry

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder

Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Avenue Capital Group Marc Lasry is a renowned financial strategist and a former Co-Owner of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA franchise. Lasry was born in Morocco and moved to the U.S. at age 7 with his family. He is the first ever Moroccan to win the NBA championship ever with the Bucks in 2021. Lasry founded Avenue Capital Group with his sister, Sonia Gardner, as a global alternative investment manager focused on distressed and undervalued debt and equity opportunities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and it has grown to one of the largest distressed debt investors globally, managing assets of approximately $13B. He is heralded as a pioneer in distressed investing, which has been the focus of his career, and his insights are sought-after for speaking events with Reuters Global Investment Summit, the SALT Conference, the Young President’s Organization, and more. A big sports fan and US sports industry leader, Lasry reportedly sold a 25% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023, when the team was valued at $3.5 billion.

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Will Mbiakop

ASCI Executive Chairman

Founder of the Game Time Summit A 20+ year veteran in the sports industry in Europe Middle East and Africa, Will Mbiakop is the founder and Executive Chairman of the African Sports and Creative Institute (ASCI), CEO of AMW, Founder of the Game Time Summit and investor. AMW is a strategic advisory firm focusing on sports monetization and investment. ASCI delivers business intelligence and capacity building programs, contributing to uplifting the sports & creative ecosystem in Africa. Previously, as head of Business Development for NBA Africa for about a decade, Mbiakop was instrumental in the growth of the NBA on the continent. As a speaker and well-respected subject matter expert, his insights on sports and creative industries, have been featured on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, AfreximBank, World Bank annual meetings and more. Mbiakop is a published author of 2 pioneering books in French and English: “Africa Sports Industry: Understanding the Game” & “Economie du Sport en Afrique”.

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Fouzi Lekjaa

Minister of Budget – President of Royal Moroccan Football Federation

Fouzi Lekjaa is a prominent Moroccan politician, government official, and sports administrator born on July 23, 1970. He has served as President of the Moroccan Royal Football Federation since 2014 and as the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget since 2021. His international roles include membership in the executive committees of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). He was honored with the Order of the Throne for leading Morocco's historic 2022 World Cup performance and was appointed to head the committee for Morocco's bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.