Right to Dream x Nike: A partnership that’s grown with the dream

Right to Dream is proud to announce the renewal of its long-standing partnership with Nike, a relationship that has deepened and evolved over time, growing with our community as it expanded across continents and generations.

Long before our graduates signed professional contracts or stepped onto the world’s biggest stages, Nike believed in what we were building. They saw the potential, not just in individual players, but in a model designed to nurture talent and create real opportunity.

What began over a decade ago has become one of our most meaningful and valued partnerships, with Nike consistently backing our journey, supporting our student-athletes, our values, and our long-term mission.

More than a sponsor

For nearly 15 years, Nike has sponsored our kits, starting with our Ghana Academy when we were still in the early stages, operating from a single location.

But it was never just about the kits. In 2007, Right to Dream represented Africa at the Nike Premier Cup. It was one of the earliest moments when our student-athletes stepped onto a global stage, offering an opportunity to show the potential of young talent from across Africa.

That belief in the potential of our model has carried through everything since.

In 2017, we named the girls' residence at our Ghana Academy the Tina Salminen House, in honour of Nike’s former Regional Sports Marketing Director for Africa. Tina’s early support and belief helped us strengthen our girls’ programme, the first of its kind in Africa, and establish a high-performance environment for female student-athletes. It’s a legacy that lives on through every graduate who has passed through that space.

Impact beyond the pitch

By 2019, the partnership had grown to support new parts of our community. Nike became the official sponsor of FC Nordsjælland in Denmark, supporting both the men’s and women’s teams, and our Denmark Academy, backing new generations of talent from across Scandinavia.

That same year, graduates Ousseni Bouda, Adelaide Armah, and Edward Opoku visited Nike Headquarters to share their journeys. It was a trip that reflected how far our model had come, and how Nike believed in the value of the stories of our graduates, helping amplify their voices to inspire others.

It was also the same year Nike supported Right to Dream graduate and then FC Nordsjælland player Maxwell Woldezi in launching the Hijab Project, an initiative focused on making football more accessible and inclusive. A clear example of how Nike supported our student-athletes and graduates — not only as players, but as leaders using football to make a difference in their communities.

In 2020, Right to Dream graduate Abu Francis wore the name “Tina” on the back of his shirt for International Women’s Day. It was a simple tribute to Tina Salminen, reflecting the depth of the impact she had, and the value-led nature of this partnership.

Growing together

As Right to Dream expanded into Egypt in 2021, extending our reach and presence to North Africa, Nike’s support scaled with us. Nike became the official sponsor of both Right to Dream Egypt and FC Masar, backing a fully integrated model of men’s and pro football, boys’ and girls’ academies, and supporting our mission to create more elite, inclusive, and locally rooted football ecosystems.

In 2023, the partnership continued to grow with the launch of Coaching Queens, a collaboration between Right to Dream, Nike, and the Powerhouse Project that focused on developing and supporting the next generation of female coaches across Africa.

“We’ve always seen this partnership as a reflection of shared values and a commitment to meaningful lasting impact,” said Sion Portman, Chief Brand Officer at Right to Dream, who spent over a decade at Nike before joining the group, bringing experience that deepens the shared sense of purpose behind the partnership.

“As our community has grown, our partnership with Nike has grown with us, supporting our work in Ghana, Denmark, Egypt, and beyond. They’ve backed not just our student-athletes, but the model and values that help them thrive. As we renew our partnership, we’re proud to keep growing that impact together across our clubs, academies, and communities, supporting the next generation of talent.”

The work continues, backed by renewed support and the same belief that has been there from the start.