Omega Sports Holding and the football team Racing Club d'Abidjan have concluded a landmark partnership and a major investment agreement
January 30th, 2024
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire - Omega Sports Holding (OSH) and Racing Club d’Abidjan (RCA) today announced a landmark partnership and major investment agreement that will see OSH become a minority shareholder in RCA, the Ivorian football club and current leader of Ligue 1.
This partnership marks the beginning of a new phase of growth for RCA. OSH's investment will contribute to developing RCA's sports, commercial, and social operations, and support the expansion project of the training and living facility built on 7 hectares of land.
OSH, who becomes a minority shareholder of the club, will also provide expertise to support the club in achieving its goals. This includes increasing the club's global reach, developing fan engagement, and enhancing collaboration to explore opportunities in sports investments.
With its deep knowledge of the sports industry, operational expertise, and a vast network of relationships, OSH aims to increase the value of its portfolio of sports organizations and significantly impact the sports economy globally and particularly in Africa and in Côte d’Ivoire. This investment comes just over a year after OSH's initial investment in the Abidjan Basketball Club, the most storied basketball club in Côte d’Ivoire, with 18 men’s and 13 women’s national championships.
For Racing Club d’Abidjan, the arrival of a leading strategic partner is an important step in its development. Since its founding in 2009 in Yopougon by Souleymane Cissé, former professional footballer then coach and sports director in elite European clubs (Evian, Monaco, Nice, Bordeaux, Lausanne), RCA has seen a meteoric rise in the Ivorian football landscape. Originally a training center, it entered the third division in 2016, moved up to the first division in 2018, and was crowned Champion of Côte d’Ivoire in 2020.
Supported by a large base of young supporters from Yopougon, the most populous municipality of Côte d’Ivoire, RCA aims to be innovative and extremely ambitious, fueled by the fruits of its training program, the core of its project. The average age (21 years) of the players in the first division team reflects this DNA. Over twenty RCA players have played in the Ivorian youth selections (U20 and U23), and some now play in Europe, such as NGUESSAN Jean (FC Metz - French Ligue 1), AHOUSSOU Ange (FC Pau - French Ligue 2), LEGBO Dimitri (FC Inter - Finnish Ligue 1), TRAORE Seydou (Lausanne Sport - Swiss Ligue 1), ZOHOURI Armel (Sherif Tiraspol - Moldovan Ligue 1), OUATTARA Brahima (Riga - Latvian Ligue 1).
Cheick Sanankoua, Founder and President of Omega Sports Holding, said: « We are delighted to partner with RCA. Sports in Africa is a booming field that offers immense economic and social opportunities. Beyond super-events like the football Africa Cup of Nations, there is a need to develop local, high-impact initiatives for the development of sports and the support of the youth. RCA is the ideal partner for us to make our entry into the Ivorian football universe. »
Souleymane Cissé, President of Racing Club d’Abidjan, concluded: « We look forward to working with the Omega Sports Holding team. We are starting a new phase of growth on and off the field, based on long-term ambitions and the pursuit of excellence in everything we undertake. Beyond financial support, we felt from day one a real desire from OSH's leaders to grow together. Today is an important milestone in the history of our club. »
About Omega Sports Holding
Omega Sports Holding is a private investment company focused on creating high-impact platforms in the sports industry with flexible long-term capital in partnership with its network of entrepreneurs and Family Office. Omega Sports Holding initially focuses on Africa and plans to invest $50 million in capital in the sports industry over the next 24 to 36 months, through direct investments (sports teams, sports leagues, major sports events), indirect investments (sportswear, health and nutrition, sports technology, e-sports, etc.), and infrastructure (arenas, stadiums, multi-purpose sports facilities, etc.). For more information, please visit our website, as well as our LinkedIn and Twitter pages.
About Racing Club d’Abidjan
Racing Club d’Abidjan is a football club founded in 2009 with the ambition of contributing to the education of young people and providing them with future perspectives by leveraging their passion for football. Champion of Côte d’Ivoire in 2020, the club is recognized on the national stage and now aspires to become a model on the continent. For more information, please visit our Facebook and Instagram.
Contacts:
OSH: Jean-Luc Agboyibo – CEO – jagboyibo@omegasportsholding.com
RCA: Souleymane Cissé – Chairman – cisse.institut@gmail.com
35°Ouest – Strategic Communication and Press Relations Agency:
Goudet Abalé – COO – ga@35nord.com
