From left to right: Grace Loubassou, Corporate Social Responsibility Director for CANAL+ in Africa, Henning Brinkmann, Head of EMEA (Audiovisual Rights) at Bundesliga International.
Bundesliga International and CANAL+ have announced the launch of the Bundesliga Canal+ Media Academy, a new initiative designed to empower the next generation of sports journalists across Francophone Africa. The programme, which was officially announced at a press conference in Paris, is the latest milestone in the long-standing partnership between Bundesliga International and leading Francophone broadcaster Canal+, underlining their shared commitment to developing talent and fostering innovation in sports media on the continent.
The first edition of the Bundesliga Canal+ Media Academy will bring together a select group of aspiring journalists from across Africa, including participants from Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Togo. The call for applications, which closed earlier this month, attracted more than 500 submissions from young media professionals eager to enhance their skills and gain first-hand experience in international sports journalism.
With a number of Africa’s world class stars starring in Germany, the Bundesliga Canal+ Media Academy is supporting the development of the next generation of journalists, through a curated programme that includes interviews with representatives from both the league and its clubs. Each journalist will have the chance to speak with executives, coaches and players, to discover and the tell the unique stories of the German top-flight league and its African local heroes.
Over the course of the programme, participants from across French-speaking Africa will benefit from a comprehensive curriculum featuring expert-led sessions on the Bundesliga’s international strategy in Africa, club engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa, and inspiring career stories from professionals across the football ecosystem. Complementing these live interview sessions, Canal+ will offer in-depth training on sports reporting, storytelling, journalism ethics, media production, broadcasting, and digital content creation.
A highlight of the programme will be a live interview with Bazoumana Toure, Ivorian striker from TSG Hoffenheim as they fight for a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. The group’s top participants will be selected for a trip to Germany to attend a live Bundesliga match and gain hands-on experience within the league’s media ecosystem. All participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion, awarded during an official closing ceremony.
“The Bundesliga Canal+ Media Academy is a testament to the impact of the partnership between Canal+ and Bundesliga, providing meaningful opportunities for professional growth and cross-cultural exchange,” said Henning Brinkmann, Bundesliga International’s Head of EMEA (Audiovisual Rights). “By investing in the education and development of young journalists, both organisations are helping to shape the future of sports media in Africa and beyond.”
“We are delighted and honored to collaborate with the Bundesliga on this training programme,” said Grace Loubassou, Corporate Social Responsibility Director for CANAL+ in Africa. “Creating these masterclasses for football fans and aspiring journalists is both a privilege and a meaningful responsibility. It’s a true pleasure and a pride to see African players shine across the world and this Germany-Africa connection highlights not only our shared passion for sport, but also the importance of professional, high‑quality journalism for talents motivated to take their passion to the next level.”
In recent years, the two organisations have collaborated on impactful projects across the continent, including inviting local journalists to Bundesliga match experiences, hosting joint match screenings in markets such as Burkina Faso and Senegal, and launching collaborative online campaigns around Bundesliga top matches. The Bundesliga continues to collaborate with its network of clubs, media and broadcast partners to support the development of football at all levels throughout the continent.
Alongside of a rich history of African talent making their names in the Bundesliga, the German top-flight is active on the ground through soccer schools and academies, such as Borussia Dortmund’s International Academy launched in Ghana last month and Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s support of the Edmond Tapsoba Foundation in Burkina Faso earlier this week. Furthermore, RB Leipzig will take their first team to South Africa at the end of the season, embarking on their first post-season tour of the Rainbow Nation, where they will take on Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria.
