Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, has disclosed that he plans to
buy English Premier League team, Arsenal, within the next four
years – a bid that could make him the first African owner of a Premier League club if successful.
The Nigerian billionaire reportedly made the disclosure on
Wednesday during a television interview in New York but said
that he is not in a position to acquire Arsenal now because his
finances are committed towards completing more than $20
billion worth of infrastructure projects, including the
construction of a refinery.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 20: Aliko Dangote speaks on stage at the Africa-America Institute’s 2016 Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 25 Broadway on September 20, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images for Africa-America Institute)
“It’s not about buying Arsenal and just continuing with business as usual,” Dangote said. “It’s about buying Arsenal and turning it around. I’ve run a very successful business and I think I can also run a very successful team.”
Dangote is now at least $2.5 billion poorer since FORBES published its annual ranking of Billionaires in March. At the time, he was worth $15.4 billion. He now has a fortune of $12.9 billion, a fortune decline caused by Nigeria’s recent devaluation of the Naira.
Last year when Dangote reiterated his interest in acquiring a stake in Arsenal, he attracted widespread criticism from a wide section of Nigerians, many of whom insisted that his money would be better spent by acquiring a local Nigerian football team and promoting the Nigerian Premier League rather than spending on a foreign club.
“The issue is that if I buy all the Nigerian clubs, the Nigerian flags will continue to remain here. But buying Arsenal will take the Nigerian flag worldwide. Just like whenever Abramovich is mentioned, the name of his country, Russia comes up. Everyone knows he’s Russian,” Dangote had said.
A spokesman for Dangote did not respond to a request for comment.