Detect Pro Fund: Empowering Africa’s Football Talents

Detect Pro Fund: Pioneering Investment in African Football Talent

In a world where equal opportunities remain a challenge, Detect Pro Fund stands out as a pioneer in social investment, committed to scouting and training young footballers from underprivileged backgrounds. We spoke with Mike Coffi, CEO of Africa Capital Markets Corporation (ACMC), the visionary behind this fund, created in partnership with the Africa Paris Saint-Germain Academy Pro training center.

“Beyond providing financial support, the fund invests in personal development programs and academic upgrading.”

The 6 Recruits of the First Cohort Upon Their Arrival at PSG Academy Pro in Senegal / Photo Credit: PSG Academy Pro Senegal

Why was Detect Pro Fund created?

Mike Coffi: The starting point was a clear observation: despite Africa’s vast pool of talented players, the continent remains underrepresented in international competitions. The lack of adequate infrastructure limits young players’ skill development, and insufficient funding slows the growth of football at all levels. Two years ago, we launched the region’s first sports investment fund with the goal of financing and training Africa’s football gems, helping them turn professional, and giving them access to major leagues where they can showcase their talent.

What are the key objectives of your project?

M.C.: Our project has four clear objectives:

Social Impact: Covering the often high costs of football and educational training for young talents, primarily from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Boosting Local Football: Partnering with youth academies and leveraging FIFA’s solidarity mechanism to generate revenue for local clubs, improving their infrastructure and training programs, and elevating the quality of local leagues.
Developing a Pool of Professional Players: Strengthening African national teams with high-level players.
Sustainable Financial Returns: Aiming for responsible and attractive investment yields based on the performance of players in international clubs.

What is the impact of your investments?

M.C.: Our fund is valued at €6.5 million. In partnership with ICEF Africa Paris Saint-Germain Academy Pro, a leading training center, our goal is to finance 100 young talents from underprivileged backgrounds over five years. We are already seeing promising results:

Boris Koffi and Clark Bahi, two players from our first cohort, signed their first professional contracts with Slavia Prague (currently 2nd in the Czech league and competing in the Europa League), just 14 months after starting their training at Paris Saint-Germain Academy Pro Senegal.
For the upcoming winter transfer window, we aim to secure three more signings.

How does the scouting process work?

M.C.: We focus on talented players aged 16 to 18 who demonstrate exceptional athletic, psychological, and technical abilities. Our selection process includes:

Initial Screening: Over 4,000 players are assessed in tournaments over three months.
Final Selection: The best 20 players are chosen based on strict criteria, in collaboration with PSG Academy Pro Senegal.
Full Scholarship Training: Selected players undergo a two-year, fully-funded training program.
Career Pathways: The top talents can pursue international careers, while others gain skills to enhance local leagues.

What makes your initiative unique compared to other academies?

M.C.: Our holistic approach goes beyond football training:

Financial Support: Covering costs for young players.
Personal Development & Education: Partnering with the Lycée Français de Saly in Senegal to ensure players also receive academic training.

This ensures that the players not only succeed in football but are also equipped for life beyond the sport.

How does this benefit the local football ecosystem?

M.C.: In Côte d’Ivoire, for example, many youth academies lack proper financial support despite having talented coaches. Detect Pro Fund helps by:

Providing exposure for young players.
Generating revenue for local clubs through FIFA’s training compensation system.
Building a strong pool of players for African national teams.
Improving local leagues by retaining skilled players who don’t go abroad.

Ultimately, our project brings indirect funding to grassroots football, helping clubs become more professional and enhancing technical training standards.