Abidjan (ILO News) - In conjunction with the Union des Footballeurs Professionnels de Côte d'Ivoire (UFPCI) and the Plateforme des Centrales Syndicales sur la Migration en Côte d'Ivoire (PCSM-CI), the ILO has organized an awareness-raising event for young footballers on the theme of well-prepared, voluntary migration, to coincide with the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The objective of this campaign, which is an extension of the one undertaken since 2022 with FIFPRO and the Didier Drogba Foundation, is to inform and raise awareness among young footballers about the importance of a voluntary and well-prepared migration in order to allow them to know and understand how to plan and carry out a migration project in conditions of freedom, dignity, equity and security in order to achieve decent work. It also aims to present the risks and give reliable guidance and information to young football talents whose dreams of pursuing a professional career has been revived by the AFCON.

This initiative is part of the ILO Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment (FAIR), which promotes fair recruitment practices at the global level, in countries of origin and destination, and in specific migration corridors, including from Côte d'Ivoire, as well as the Joint Programme on Labour Migration Governance (JLMP).

Through this awareness-raising, the ILO and its partners have sent strong messages to young people, according to Ndeye Coumba Diop, Director of the ILO Country Office for Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Togo. Young people, live your dream and passion to become the future idols in great teams. “But make sure that all the information to manage your career as a professional footballer is respected," advised Mrs. Coumba Diop, explaining that "the practice of football must be considered as a profession in its own right, requiring the protection of the fundamental rights of its practitioners." For those who fail to achieve their aspirations for an international career in football, investing in their education and professional training represents a valid alternative to integrate easily into working life," she added.

Former international footballers Cissé Djibril, Marc Zoro, Didier Otokoré, Ghislain Akassou, Wilfried Kanon and Michael Pottey, were part of the campaign, which allowed them to interact directly with young footballers.

As teachers for a day, each of these retired internationals gave advice to the young footballers who came in large numbers to listen to them. "It's a mistake to think that you can only play football and it's going to work. You have to have a plan B, a fallback. I am in a good position to know. Injuries can happen and end a career despite all the talent we have," said former France international and Liverpool player Djibril Cissé, stressing the importance of education, knowledge of their rights and good preparation for young footballers who dream of an international career and are considering to migrate.

Like Djibril Cissé, Zoro Marc urged young footballers to make education their priority. "Believe in your dream, but go to school. Above all, watch out for fake agents." Every year, it is estimated that about six thousand young men and women migrate from West Africa to foreign countries. There are many recurring testimonies about the difficult conditions in which young people find themselves while migrating and dreaming of joining football academies or playing in professional football leagues. But in rare cases, the migration of these young players leads to successful careers in football.

In the majority of cases, young people are poorly prepared, poorly informed or poorly trained about their rights. The protection of young footballers and the facilitation of decent work require the full involvement and participation of all actors, including representative, free, strong and independent workers' organisations at national, regional and continental levels.

For more information:

François Gombahignonri KOUASSI, Communications Officer, ILO Office for Côte d'Ivoire - kouassig@ilo.org