CAF Tasks NFF, Others To Combat Player’s Trafficking

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the other 53 Member Associations to put a stamp on Player Trafficking.

Africa’s apex football body took a massive step towards the fight and combating of Player Trafficking after the governing body of African football collaborated with Mission 89 to conduct Safeguarding and Anti-Player Trafficking Workshops with all its 54 Member Associations and Zonal Unions.

In collaboration with Mission 89, an internationally recognized research, education, and advocacy organisation that fights the exploitation of young athletes through social and economic transformation programmes, CAF’s Member Associations were taken through key preventative measures for fighting Player Trafficking in Africa.

The two-day workshops, which were successfully held on 27 and 29 March, shared topics such as Understanding Player Trafficking, Legal and Ethical Considerations, Safeguarding Protocols, the Role of Stakeholders, as well as Community Engagement and Awareness with the Member Associations.

Speaking on the important step taken by CAF on the sensitive subject of Anti-Player Trafficking, CAF’s Director of Member Associations, Sarah Mukuna said as the leading voice of African football, which is the biggest sport on the continent, CAF needed to lead such initiatives for the future of the African game.

“The importance of taking a strong stance against the Trafficking of young African footballers can never be over-emphasised. As the leading voice of African football, a sport played by all 54 African countries, it is important that CAF spearheads such workshops to ensure that all our Member Associations are well-equipped and knowledgeable about the subject and how to identify and prevent it from happening,” said Mukuna.

CAF Safeguarding programme was launched in 2022, through which Safeguarding focal points were appointed across CAF’s 54 Member Associations to oversee amongst other aspects, the safety and well-being of young African footballers.

The CAF Member Associations division continues to roll out impactful programmes and initiatives designed to complement the ever-growing standard of football in Africa.