AC MILAN AND DETECT PRO FUND LAUNCH IVORY COAST FIRST PRO ACADEMY INVESTING IN AFRICA’S FOOTBALL FUTURE

AC Milan teams up with Detect Pro Fund to build Ivory Coast’s first Pro Academy, investing in Africa’s next generation of football stars.

Ivory coast Africa Football Youth Investment Partnership Pro academy.
AC Milan and Detect Pro Fund launch first Pro Academy.
AC Milan and Detect Pro Fund launch first Pro Academy.



A new chapter in African football development is unfolding in Dimbokro, Ivory Coast, where European football giant AC Milan and investment vehicle Detect Pro Fund are launching their first Pro Academy. Far from being just another training center, the initiative blends sport, education, and personal development, marking a bold shift in how football talent is nurtured and valued across the continent.

Founded in 2022 by Africa Capital Markets Corporation, Detect Pro Fund, led by entrepreneur Mike Coffi, specializes in identifying and investing in African youth talent with a sustainability-driven approach. The partnership with AC Milan signals a new era where football academies are not just pipelines for athletes but strategic assets capable of creating social, sporting, and economic impact.

“We are proud to launch our first Pro Academy in the Ivory Coast. It is an investment in the future of football, but also in African youth,” said Maikel Oettle, Chief Commercial Officer of AC Milan, at the official signing in Casa Milan. Echoing this vision, Coffi stressed: “We are building a strong ecosystem to transform young African talents into professionals, on and off the field.”

The project goes beyond the pitch. By combining state-of-the-art infrastructure with academic monitoring and holistic personal support, the Dimbokro-based Pro Academy aims to set a continental benchmark. For AC Milan, it strengthens its African footprint, complementing its partnership in the Democratic Republic of Congo and continuing a legacy built by legendary African players in the Rossoneri jersey. For Detect Pro Fund, it positions the firm as a trailblazer in structuring opportunities in an industry often left to informality.

This academy is not only an investment in football excellence but also in Africa’s future, bridging sport, education, and business in a way that could redefine talent development on the continent.

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