Africa has earned the nickname ‘Africa’s Golden Generation’ in football, but it has historically been hamstrung by talent drain.
South Africa, for example, currently struggles to train 40 players at full international level and the South African Football Association (Safa) and the English Premier League are often at loggerheads over the issue.
Shinyarafule Mr John, an African talent scout from neighbouring Tanzania, has recently helped African teams qualify for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup.
A Kenyan Olympic and world bronze medallist, Mr John has taken pride in being part of the scouting team in Rwanda.
The 36-year-old started his scouting career in Ghana’s premier league a decade ago.
“I think Africa should have more than 30 representatives in the Premier League (UK),” Mr John told the BBC.
“They should also have a female scout because they have a lot of talented female players, and the same way football grew in England, it should grow in Africa as well.”
Blame game
Many blame the South African Football Association (Safa) for failing to attract young football talent.
“I think Saba needs to work hard to attract young and talented players, preferably through national schools,” one player from Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, Ayodele Ajiboye, said.
Other young and talented South African footballers have tried to join top club teams in England despite their talent being in a lower league in South Africa.
Some, including Senegalese-born Jean Tenyund, have to cut short their careers in South Africa due to lack of funding.
“Many of the players in South Africa are not getting what they deserve,” Eightyund said.
“There are so many talented African players that are not able to have big careers because there are so many no-go areas.”
The 70-year-old wing-back said young talent is dying a slow death in the country.
Vivienne Thiomaray, a project officer at the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius Football Association, told the BBC that clubs on the island are the sole source of funding for its national teams.
She said this scarcity of financial support for African talent outwits them in their bid to sign youngsters.
“Some youth teams are forced to default into the fields of Europe because of financial difficulties,” Thiomaray said.
Is this a gain for Africa or another harmful trend of brain drain, which could sink their hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
