Who extracts the value of Nigerian football players?

2015-12-01

CALABAR - According to a 2013 study conducted by Paris-based charity Foot Solidaire, around 15,000 young boys from West Africa are trafficked to Europe every year by bogus football agents who promise them trials with top football clubs in exchange for large sums money from their families.

Once in Europe, they are abandoned after parting with their family’s life savings. Of those who are lucky enough to actually make it to a trial, those who fail are abandoned by the agents who no longer see their economic value.

They are left without money, too ashamed to tell their families back at home know the truth. They overstay their visas and end up destitute on the streets of Europe.

With this staggeringly high number of trafficked children, it is surprising that Foot Solidaire is the only organisation in the whole of Europe specifically set up to help...

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The investigation was carried out by a cross-border team comprising of Yemisi Akinbobola, Paul Bradshaw and Ogechi Ekeanyawu; with additional work by David Blood, Leila Haddou, Caroline Beavon, and members of Hacks/Hackers Birmingham.

The project was the winner of the CNN African Journalists Awards 2016.

Photo © Phil Hilfiker

Team members

Yemisi Akinbobola

Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola is a Nigerian award-winning journalist.

Paul Bradshaw

Professor Paul Bradshaw is a British data journalist, lecturer, trainer and writer.

Ogechi Ekeanyanwu

Ogechi Ekeanyanwu is an award-winning Nigerian independent journalist and editor.

Supported

€6,300 allocated on 23/09/2015

CC/2015/019

Grant

Connecting Continents

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