African players have become increasingly prominent, capturing the attention of fans worldwide with their exceptional skills and athletic abilities.
Here are the top five highest-paid African footballers in 2023:
1. Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane is a 31-year-old Senegalese professional footballer who recently moved from Liverpool to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr with a total earnings of £650,000 salary per week.
2. Riyad Mahrez
The 32-year-old Algerian captain plays as a right winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli with a total earnings of £481,000 salary per week.
3. Kalidou Koulibaly
The 32-year-old Senegalese captain plays as a centre-back for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal with total earnings of £412,000salary per week.
The right winger for Premier League club Liverpool with total earnings of £350,000 salary per week is captain of Egyptian national team.
5. Edouard Mendy
Édouard Osoque Mendy is a 31-year-old professional footballer who is the Senegal national team goalkeeper, Mendy keeps for the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, with total earnings of £227,000 salary per week.
English player Mason Greenwood was detained in January of 2022 on suspicion of sexual violation, physical assault, and murder threats. He was released on bail after three nights of interrogation in a detention cell.
Man-United suspended Greenwood from playing and training due to the pending investigation.
However Greenwood now plays his professional football with Spanish side Getafe
2. Benjamin Mendy
Five women accused Benjamin Mendy of sexual assault in the panic rooms of his isolated Cheshire mansion between 11 October 2020 to August 2021. He was to be jailed at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool but was moved to a top-security prison – HMP Manchester, before Christmas of 2021 for his safety.
The Manchester City player was cleared of six sexual violation cases after five months of trial, and even after being declared innocent, he still bears the shame of being held up for so long. He left Manchester City for France.
3. Ian Wright
Ian played for Crystal Palace for six years and Arsenal for seven years. He is also among the footballers who have been in jail. The television and radio personality usually narrates his prison experience, on air. The former striker had a tough children and was 19 when he was jailed at Chelmsford Prison for two weeks in 1982 for not paying insurance or driving fines for his two cars. Ian Wright admitted that the short prison sentence changed him positively.
4. Marlon King
The former Birmingham and Wigan striker was jailed for 18 months in 2009 for molesting a woman and fracturing her nose. In December 2008, Marlon King, was partying with his pregnant wife in a London club when the event occurred. In 2014, he got a three-year drinking restriction for admitting to reckless driving a second time. The ex-Jamaica international relocated with his family to a 200-acre estate near Lusaka City in Zambia.
5. Lee Hughes
Lee is among the footballers who killed someone. The life of the former West Bromwich Albion striker changed in 2004 when driving his £100,000 Mercedes. He got into an accident that killed a passenger from the other vehicle. Lee Hughes was convicted of murder and fleeing the scene and received a six-year prison sentence and a ten-year driving prohibition. Lee was released from the Featherstone prison institution in 2010.
6. Joey Barton
Barton is among the top seven criminal football players, He made 269 appearances in the Premier League, including 130 for Manchester City. The former player is the manager of League One side Bristol Rovers. Joey Barton gained notoriety for his rage on the field and numerous off-the-field altercations.
During his time as a player, he was convicted of violent offenses twice. One was with a pedestrian in Liverpool, and he was sentenced to 77 days in prison for assault. During his 2008 sentence, Barton got a four-month suspension term after he admitted assaulting and causing bodily harm against his former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo.
7. Ronaldinho
Barcelona legend Ronaldinho also joins the list of jailed footballers. After visiting Paraguay, Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto de Assis found themselves at the center of a fake passports scandal . In 2020, they made a guilty plea that reduced their sentence from five years to five months with a joint fine of $200,000 (£167,000). The brothers were imprisoned in Asuncion, where Ronaldinho spent his 40th birthday.
Former Ajax, Milan, and Barcelona star was among the best players in Dutch history. Patrick Kluivert won many league titles in Spain and Netherlands. In 1996. His jail time surfaced after he got into a car accident at 19, which killed an Ajax fan named Martin Putman. Kluivert was put on community service instead of being jailed for reckless driving.
He is now a coach and sporting director. Patrick was an assistant coach for the Cameroon national football team (2018–2019).
9. Duncan Ferguson
Ferguson is the manager of English Football (EFL), League One club Forest Green Rovers. He was one of the best strikers in Scotland’s history. Duncan Ferguson previously played for Dundee United Rangers and Everton Newcastle United. In 1994, the then-Dundee United player served three months in Barlinnie prison for head butting Raith Rovers defender John McStay and was released after 44 days.
10. George Best
The late George Best was one of Manchester United’s greatest players ever. In 1984, he was jailed for 12 weeks at Ford Open Prison due to drink-driving, assaulting a police officer, and failing to answer bail. George spent Christmas in jail that year.
In a resolute move to highlight the dangers of irregular migration and trafficking in sports, Mission89 and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) collaborated on a compelling forum aimed at galvanising football academies and administrators about creating a safer environment for aspiring African football talents.
The event, which was held in Lagos to commemorate the World Day against Trafficking, was attended by guests from several football academies, with a focus on taking a meaningful step towards eradicating the exploitation of young athletes and preserving the integrity of the game.
At the heart of this endeavour is the inking of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IOM and Mission89, symbolising their unwavering commitment to establishing a new era of accountability and protection within the sports industry.
Lerina Bright, Executive Director and Founder, Mission89 said, “Today’s event marks a significant leap forward in our collective mission to combat trafficking in sports.
He said: “By forging this partnership, we are amplifying our efforts to dismantle the networks that exploit vulnerable young athletes, ensuring that their dreams are nurtured in a safe environment. Together, we will rewrite the narrative and foster an environment where the dreams of aspiring footballers shine brightly.
“The initiative has been a pioneering force in the fight against child trafficking in sports and has long championed education and the enforcement of vital regulations to hold sports training academies responsible for the safety and well-being of young athletes. According to Ms Bright, the understanding is built on a shared vision “to provide a beacon of hope for aspiring footballers while shattering the cycle of exploitation. Through research-driven initiatives and educational programs, we are charting a course toward lasting change.
“While it is challenging to determine the exact number of young footballers trafficked out of Africa every year due to the clandestine nature of human trafficking and the lack of comprehensive data, it is estimated that more than 6,000 young African footballers fall prey to deceptive agents who promise fame, wealth, and an escape from poverty, only to deliver them into a life of exploitation and despair.
“Over the years, we have identified the need to address misinformation and limited knowledge about the risks involved as a factor leading to irregular migration to Europe from Africa”, said Laurent De Boeck. “We are definitely enthused with our partnership with Mission89, because we see opportunities to leverage and implement extensive awareness-raising interventions to tackle these problems. Through research-driven strategies and robust education initiatives, we aim to extinguish the shadows of exploitation that loom over young dreams.”
The signing of the MoU between IOM and Mission 89 is a clarion call for collective action against the trafficking of young athletes, an assertion that the global community is steadfast in its resolve to safeguard the dreams and aspirations of the youth. Through the collaborative effort, a stronger, safer, and more equitable future awaits aspiring footballers, ensuring that the essence of the beautiful game remains untainted.
Every profession has its own hazards and footballers are not left out. Aside from the possibility of sustaining injuries in the course of play, a new research has also found that the possibility of developing dementia and other diseases after football cannot be ruled out.
The report released Monday indicates that former footballers are approximately three and a half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative disease than the general population.
The report commissioned by the Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association, assessed the medical records of 7,676 men who played professional football in Scotland between 1900 and 1976.
Their records were matched against more than 23,000 individuals from the general population, with the study led by consultant neuropathologist Dr Willie Stewart of Glasgow University.
His findings report that the ‘risk ranged from a five-fold increase in Alzheimer’s disease, through an approximately four-fold increase in motor neurone disease, to a two-fold Parkinson’s disease in former professional footballers compared to population controls’.
The research follows a previous study by the two football bodies that was launched shortly before an inquest in 2002 ruled that former West Brom and England player Jeff Astle had died from an ‘industrial disease’ caused by repetitive blows to the head.
Liverpool icon Bob Paisley, who spent 45 years at the club in various capacities, winning six league titles and three
European Cups as a manager, died in 1996 in a Merseyside nursing home four years after first displaying symptoms of Alzheimers.
Former England and West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle (right) died in 2002.
He was only 59 but doctors said he had the brain of a 90-year-old after suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
An inquest ruled Astle died from dementia caused by heading footballs – the first British professional footballer to be officially confirmed to have done so.
Astle, who was left unable to recognise his own children, once commented that heading a football was like heading ‘a bag of bricks’.
At a time when many are complaining about unemployment, at a time when those who are employed in some countries are lamenting about the inadequacy of the pay packet, a wealthy couple in the United kingdom have put a job on the table that could fetch whoever eventually gets it, a take home of £75,000 per year (about N35.1million or N2.9million per month)
The unnamed wealthy couple whose sons dream of becoming professional footballers have offered to pay the person who can take them to the top £75,000 per year in an unconventional job role.
The chosen manager-come-nanny will need to have played at a high level and have coaching experience, according to the job advertisement posted online.
The frank description explained how the couple ‘in their 40s’ from Barnet in London are wealthy but do not like their ‘boring corporate jobs’ and want their sons to ‘make it’ in sport.
After getting the job the well paid coach will be expected to run intensive camps with the boys and attend games on Sundays.
The ad states: ‘Being stuck doing something you dislike is a position we don’t want our children to ever be in, and we’re willing to do pretty much anything to make sure our sons are able to follow their dreams.
‘The reason we’re so passionate about this is that when my husband was younger football was something he wanted to pursue, but he was pushed down a more academic route by his parents.
‘This is something we never want to do to our boys.
‘They’re both incredibly talented and easily the best in their teams, even at 8 and 10 years old.
‘Obviously we know our requirements are unconventional, and a nanny with experience and contacts in professional football is like asking for a unicorn, but we can pay a £75,000 annual salary for the right candidate.’
The family from Barnet in London wants someone who can start ‘ASAP’.
Vandor Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has offered to pay the National Examination Commission (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees of players of Right Football Academy of Mainland and Greater Tomorrow FC of Apapa.
Both teams made the finals of the maiden Jandor Foundation U-14 Cup soccer tournament held last month.
The foundation’s Chairman, Olajide Adediran said its priority would be education, but he decided to sponsor the football competition to give talented youths opportunity to exhibit their skills.
“Let me assure you that Jandor Foundation is not jettisoning sponsoring education by taking this competition. What we are doing is to say that in all sectors of the economy or what you have chosen to do, have education and there is a way we can also promote that. This is to further show that we are not just here to play football and catch these boys young, we are also passionate about their tomorrow, that is their future which we believe education will play a pivotal role.
“As a result of this, aside from the presentation of cheques, I am on behalf of the BOT and advisory board announcing that both the winner and first runner up, Jandor Foundation have decided to sponsor your education, if the state will be paying for your WAEC, we will take up the NECO.
“The central coordinator of Jandor Foundation will take details and we are going to ensure that this is done. We will take your details and any time you attain that age of obtaining NECO, be rest assured that it has already been taken care of, congratulations,” he said.
Right FA defeated Greater Tomorrow 3-0 in the final to win the trophy and N150,000 cash prize. Greater Tomorrow got a smaller trophy ad N100,000. In the third place match, Zamadek FC of Agege won N50,000 for beating Soccer City 4-2.
Worried by dearth of competitions, amputee footballers no longer attend their training, leading their coach Victor Nwaewe, clamour for sponsorships from the corporate world and philanthropists.
The National Coach of Nigeria Amputee Football Federation (NAFF) on Monday confirmed that the response of players to training activities has dropped since the beginning of the year.
Nwaewe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the footballers observed their training on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the field behind Stadium Hotel, Surulere, Lagos.
“Before now, our training used to be full and lively because of the huge turnout of players but things are no longer the same because the response has reduced.
“But those who are passionate about the career makes extra effort to come for training and I try as much as I can to encourage them,’’ he said.
He said that training was important as it was a way to keep the players in shape and prepare them ahead of national and international competitions which were not forthcoming.
The coach while expressing displeasure in the state of affairs said that players were no longer inspired to commit their time to training and would have no ground to exhibit their skills.
“The truth is that the players are not happy and can no longer continue to train aimlessly without any competition to showcase their skills and develop their talents.
“Some have gone as far as doing other sports allows for their form of disability, one of our national player have changed to table tennis and his doing well,’’ he said.
Nwaewe said the sport was meant to be a tool for integration for soccer, especially among persons living with physical challenges in their arms or legs with the help of crutches.
He urged the NAFF board member to address the issue of sponsorship, which, according to him, has left the sport stagnant for a period of time.
NAN reports that disabled athletes played amputee football with seven players on each team (six outfield players and one goalkeeper).
Outfield players have lower extremity amputations, and goalkeepers have an upper extremity amputation, outfield players use loft strand (forearm) crutches and play without their prosthesis.
A report has ranked Nigeria as the fifth biggest exporter of footballers in the world, just behind Brazil, Argentina, France and Serbia.
According to the CIES Football Observatory monthly report, Nigeria is also the biggest supplier of football talent in Africa as they have 596 players scattered across the world.
Other African countries mentioned in this report are Senegal (10th in the world, 377), Cote d’Ivoire (11th, 370), Cameroon (12th, 366) and Ghana (13th, 365).
In total, 18,660 foreign players of 194 origins were recorded in the leagues taken into account in the analysis.
Footballers playing outside of their country of origin make up about 13% of squads.
Five-time world champions Brazil remain the biggest exporters of footballers in the world as the report say they have 1,784 players plying their trade outside their country.
Brazilians are clearly ahead of Argentinians (929 players) and the French (758).These three nationalities alone account for almost 20% of foreigners present on a global level.
Among the 15 countries exporting the most players are six European, five African and four South American nations.
This is despite the recent below-par performances of their national team, Brazil remain an exporter country of footballers par excellence.
Brazilians are present in almost all of the countries studied, making them the only truly global workforce.
However, no South American country is among the top five destinations of Brazilians. However, three of the five main destinations of Argentinians are to be found in South America.
Similarly, the main countries to which French players migrate are geographically close to the home country.
Greensprings School has opened its Lekki campus gates to primary and secondary school pupils within the ages of five to 17 for the annual Greensprings/KanuFootball Camp on Sunday.
The camp, which is in its fourth edition, will last for one week during which participants will be coached by coaches from Netherlands and England.
Greensprings’ Head of Sports, Oluseyi Oyebode, assured parents of security during the camp.
“We want to assure every participant and parents that the camp will open from noon on Sunday. Adequate security has been in place for all participants while the atmosphere is also conducive for the camp this year,” Oyebode said.
He noted that the foreign coaches from the English Premiership and Dutch leagues will manage the training with the assistance of indigenous coaches. This year’s camp promises to be exciting as the clinic coincides with the school’s 30th anniversary.
The Director of Education, Greensprings School, Harry McFaul, said there is more sponsorship for children to participate in the camp this year. He added that the school will also hold a day clinic in downtown Abesan, a Lagos suburb, with a bid to identify new talents among school-aged children.
“The camp will be larger offering more opportunities to potential football stars from all over Nigeria. We have had enquiries from farther afield than ever before with large numbers of sponsored places offered to boys and girls, who have potential, but maybe not the financial means to attend. In furtherance of Greensprings’ corporate social responsibility, there will be an outreach programme in Abesan Community, Lagos where Kanu Nwankwo will lead all the foreign coaches and their Nigerian counterparts on a day football clinic for residents in the area. What makes this year’s event unique is that there will be more time allocated to coaching and training of coaches so that even more people will ultimately benefit from the camp in the longer term,” McFaul said.
McFaul said the camp has added value to the lives of many talented children.
“The camp has grown in popularity and success over the years and many students have blossomed as a result of being at the camp. In recent years a number of players were spotted and offered scholarships at Greensprings where they have been highly successful academically as well as on the football pitch. Some have been fortunate enough to gain places at football academies in England after attending the camp. There is a lot of excitement and anticipation surrounding the camp this year and we pray for a great time of fun and fulfilment for all who attend,” he said.
While Nigerians hope that the Super Eagles perform well at the ongoing World Cup holding in Brazil, Greensprings School, Lagos, is concerned about helping to raise future teams through its football scholarship..
Four beneficiaries of the scholarship, discovered during the last two editions of the Greensprings/Kanu Football Camp (a talent hunt initiative of the school with the Kanu Nwankwo Heart Foundation), are adjusting to academic and football life at the school’s Awoyaya campus in Ibeju-Lekki. The quartet, Haruna Adi, Elvis Onyenze, Musa Ali, and Muritala Toyeeb, were formerly pupils of public school before their talents led them to Greensprings, where they now enjoy topflight education in a serene environment.
Forming part of the scholarship is sponsoring them to tournaments. The school’s deputy head, Ms Dolapo Fatoki, said during a facility tour of the school that two of the quartet (Elvis and Musa) participated in the 2nd African Youth Championship in Burkina Faso and displayed their talent that made other countries to be envious. Musa scored a goal in the tournament won by Nigeria.
At Greensprings, Ms Fatoki said, the youngsters would be exposed to quality tuition based on the British curriculum, enjoy world class educational and recreational facilities, and benefit from the school’s core values of child-centredness, respect, integrity, excellence and service.
She said the football scholarship is just one of the initiatives the school has embarked upon to give back to the society.
Others, in her words include annual scholarship to orphans, training for teachers and support to several public schools.
She added that parents and the pupils have plugged into the school’s giving habit and are implementing several projects. The parents sponsor 10 pupils to Greensprings annually, while the pre-school, elementary, high, and International Baccalaureate arms of the school have provided facilities for public schools and donated in support of worthy causes.
“The empathy level of our children is very high. They are aware that they are privileged. Our children make contributions to charities in the school. The school also encourages parents to contribute. The school gives because it is the nature of the visioner of the school, Mrs Lai Koiki. She stands for giving back. It is something she teaches to every child that passes through this school,” she said.
But the school is not done with giving yet. During the long vacation, while some of its teachers travel to the United Kingdom for various training, Ms Fatoki said Greensprings will open its doors to teachers from public schools and other private schools to train at a highly subsidized rate.
Supporting Ms Fatoki’s claims, a parent, Mr Solomon Oyebode, said the school provides an environment for all-round development of its 1,300 pupils, aged between 18 months and 18 years.
He said he appreciates this value in his children and urged corporate organisations and individuals to support its many projects which can add value to the lives of the underprivileged.
“When children have been exposed to an environment like this, it helps them to develop much more. There are a lot of areas we require sponsorship that we would be happy to partner,” he said.
