FIFPRO Partners With Didier Drogba To Protect African Players Against Fake Agents

FIFPRO and FIFPRO Africa in collaboration with the Didier Drogba Foundation and the International Labour Organization (ILO), have launched a campaign to raise awareness of African players being targeted and scammed by people pretending to be agents.

In what has been termed a game-changing move for our players, FIFPRO, the global players’ union, is aiming to combat the alarming rise of fake agents targeting African football players. This groundbreaking initiative seeks to protect players, empower them with knowledge, and raise awareness about the risks involved in dealing with fraudulent agents.

According to KEFWA president James Situma, the move will go a long way in educating and empowering professional footballers to avoid the increasing number of such cases, where false promises of contracts and ultimate success have become a norm.

“I really appreciate the initiative by FIFPRO to raise more awareness because this has been a challenge not only in Kenya but across Africa, from aspiring youth players to seasoned professionals. Our members are being increasingly approached by individuals posing as agents, luring them with false promises of trials, contracts, and ultimate success. These deceptive tactics have wreaked havoc on the dreams and lives of many players who fall victim to these scams,” noted Situma.

To shed more light on this pressing issue, FIFPRO conducted a survey among 263 professional players across seven African countries including Botswana, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The results were alarming, with more than 70% of players reporting contact from individuals claiming they could facilitate club transfers, while a staggering 56% of players did not receive the promised trials. Furthermore, 44% of the players revealed that they signed contracts that did not match their expectations.

“To prevent further exploitation, FIFPRO’s campaign emphasizes the importance of player vigilance. We are continuously urging them (players) to exercise caution and meticulously assess the credentials of individuals claiming to be agents. Before doing any arrangements, our members should check if the agent is licensed by FIFA,” added Situma.

Further, players are advised to never make payments to agents before signing a contract with a club, seek legal advice before signing any deals, and promptly reach out to KEFWA or FIFPRO for assistance.

Speaking on the issue, legendary footballer Didier Drogba passionately expressed his commitment to protecting aspiring footballers across Africa.

 “Africa is proud of its world-class footballers. Unfortunately, for every great success story, there are many migrant players who see their dreams shattered. Those young people can find themselves facing great difficulties being alone in a foreign country; with no family and no network of acquaintances, they are totally vulnerable to exploitation and abuse,” Drogba said.

The collaboration between FIFPRO, Didier Drogba, and supporting organizations aims to empower players by providing the education and resources necessary to safeguard themselves from unscrupulous individuals preying on their dreams.