BVB launches Ghana academy, following Addo and Tanko’s footsteps | OneFootball

Otto Addo (50) will soon take the world football stage. The former Borussia Dortmund professional famously led Ghana to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico (June 11 to July 19). Ibrahim Tanko (48) also hails from the football-crazy country in West Africa. Now, BVB is represented locally.

In February 2026, the Bundesliga club opened the BVB International Academy Ghana in the capital city of Accra. The club officially announced this on Monday (February 9). According to Borussia Dortmund, this is the first official academy on the African continent.

The aim of the institution is to “provide young female and male players with a structured environment for athletic and personal development.” The BVB International Academy Ghana is explicitly modeled on “the training philosophy and values of Borussia Dortmund in youth development.”

Benedikt Scholz, Director of Internationalization and Managing Director of the BVB Football Academy, commented on the plans for the new establishment in a statement. “With the opening of the BVB International Academy Ghana, we are sending a strong signal in a market with which BVB has been connected for many years through players like Otto Addo or Ibrahim Tanko,” he explained. “We are pleased to work together with our local partners to gradually create sustainable structures for the development of young female and male footballers.”

Targeted Youth Development

The focus is not only on the football training of talents, but also on “team spirit, discipline, sense of responsibility, and sustainable talent development.” According to their own statements, the cooperation takes place “in close coordination with local structures” and is intended to “specifically promote local youth.”

Present at the official opening were Florian Ingwersen, Head of Global Football Development, and Michael Rütten, Head of Coaching at the BVB Evonik Football Academy.

Both Addo and Tanko have pursued coaching careers after the end of their playing days. While Addo is responsible for Ghana’s senior national team, Tanko is currently coaching his country’s U23 squad.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.