Africa should not always look to Europe for football knowledge, as the learning process must be mutual, says Right to Dream Egypt CEO Mohammed Wasfy.
Speaking at the Soccerex MENA 2025 event in Cairo, Wasfy stressed that football knowledge does not have to flow solely from Europe to Africa, but should instead move in both directions.
“We believe there’s a lot of football knowledge coming out of Africa. It doesn’t have to flow from Europe to Africa. It goes both ways,” he said.
His remarks highlight a growing movement in African football that challenges the traditional view of Europe as the sole center of football excellence.
A Global Game with Shared Lessons
Wasfy’s Right to Dream Academy, founded in Ghana, has established itself as one of the most respected youth development projects in the world. Expanding to Egypt, Denmark, and the United States, the academy focuses on nurturing African talent while also learning from global football cultures.
“Football is a global game, and knowledge, expertise, and innovation should flow in all directions,” Wasfy said. “This belief drives us every day at Right to Dream, where our academies and clubs in Ghana, Egypt, Denmark, and the US continuously collaborate and learn from each other.”
His comments reflect the growing influence of African football on the global stage. Players developed in Africa, such as Mohammed Kudus, Simon Adingra, and Ibrahim Osman, have gone on to shine in European leagues, proving the continent’s ability to produce world-class talent.
Changing the Narrative
Historically, European clubs and academies have been seen as the pinnacle of football education, with African nations sending their best players abroad for development. However, Wasfy believes this perception is outdated, as African football institutions are increasingly demonstrating their ability to train elite players.
Initiatives such as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Schools Programme and the KNVB WorldCoaches programme also aim to enhance local coaching and talent development across the continent.
Wasfy emphasized that exchanging ideas and challenging existing models is the key to long-term football growth, not just for Africa but for the global game.
“The more we share, listen, and collaborate, the more we move forward, as academies, as clubs, and as a global football community,” he said.
A New Vision for African Football
Right to Dream’s expansion to Egypt is seen as a major step in this vision. The academy hopes to not only produce top-tier Egyptian talent but also to provide a platform where European and African football cultures can learn from each other.
With more African players excelling in global football, Wasfy’s argument for a two-way exchange of knowledge is gaining traction, reinforcing Africa’s growing influence in the game.
