Shola Akinlade, the co-founder of Nigerian fintech startup Paystack, has acquired a 55% stake in Danish club Aarhus Fremad as part of his ambitious plan to build a football empire and provide opportunities for young players in Africa to reach the highest levels of the sport. Akinlade's strategy involves establishing a "top-tier academy" at his own Nigerian team, Sporting Lagos, and developing young players with potential before sending the best to Aarhus Fremad to gain valuable experience playing in the Danish leagues. This creates a win-win situation for both clubs, potentially earning millions of euros in transfer fees, and provides a clear pathway for young African talent to reach the highest levels of European football. With Akinlade's acquisition of Aarhus Fremad, he could potentially replicate the success of European clubs like FC Nordsjælland that have established academies in Africa to discover young African talent.

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