African football legend Didier Drogba is leading the charge against fake football agents, aiming to protect young African players from falling victim to scams. The campaign, in collaboration with the Federation Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (FIFPRO), aims to raise awareness of the dangers posed by fake agents and educate young players on how to distinguish between genuine and fake representatives.
According to a recent FIFPRO report, 70% of African footballers surveyed have received unsolicited approaches from individuals pretending to be agents, promising them opportunities to play abroad. Unfortunately, many of these opportunities never materialize, leaving players stranded in unfavorable conditions when they do manage to travel.
In one such case, Abdulwasiu Abdrasaq, a hopeful 19-year-old footballer, was lured by an advertisement on Facebook from TalentBracket.net, an Australian-based platform claiming to help aspiring players secure professional contracts in Europe. After applying and being notified of his selection by Spanish club Real Betis, Abdrasaq was asked to pay various fees, including a work visa application fee. It was only when he became suspicious and sought assistance from a local football players’ support platform that he discovered he had been scammed.
Similar stories are all too common, as many young players and their families are desperate for a chance at professional football abroad. Some families have even lost their entire savings in the pursuit of these opportunities. Geremi Njitap, the FIFPRO Africa president, emphasizes the need to educate parents and families about the dangers associated with sending their children overseas, where they can fall into the hands of dangerous people smugglers.
However, it’s not just players who are at risk. Olatunji Okuku, founder of the Triple 44 Academy in Nigeria, highlights the pressures football academies face to pay so-called agents in exchange for scouting their players. This, in turn, contributes to the problem and puts academy owners in vulnerable positions. Okuku shares his experience of being deceived by a fake agent who tried to exploit him and one of his players by promising a contract in Europe. Instead of pursuing the dubious offer, Okuku returned to Nigeria and focused on developing his academy, which has since seen players move to Europe through legitimate channels.
FIFPRO is working to sanitize the football agent business by collaborating with FIFA to release an official agents’ list in October 2023. This list will provide players with a reliable resource to easily identify registered agents and avoid potential scams. In the meantime, FIFPRO continues to raise awareness among players about the risks associated with fake agents and encourages them to seek assistance from player unions.
The lure of opportunities abroad is often driven by the lack of infrastructure and the non-payment of wages in African football clubs. As a result, young players are more vulnerable to falling for scams that promise them a way out of unfavorable conditions. Drogba emphasizes the importance of improving local conditions and encouraging young African players to achieve their dreams within their own communities.
Ultimately, the responsibility for players’ safety lies with themselves. Drogba advises young players to focus on their performance and let their talent attract genuine agents. Genuine agents, he assures, will find them without players needing to chase after them.
The fight against fake agents is crucial for the protection of young African footballers and the integrity of the sport. By raising awareness, providing education, and improving local conditions, the campaign led by Drogba and FIFPRO aims to empower players and their families while ensuring their dreams of professional football can be pursued safely and legitimately.
