BABOUCARR FALLABOWEH

Story: This investigative piece, published by The Alkamba Times, explores the blurred lines between corporate sponsorship and control in grassroots football development in The Gambia. The focus is Afriskaut – a tech-driven scouting company that entered into an agreement with the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) to sponsor a youth league. What began as a partnership to enhance player visibility evolved into a sponsorship deal that included a deeply contentious clause: Afriskaut would be entitled to 55% of any future transfer fee from players participating in the league it financed. This clause, uncovered through documents and confirmed by sources, raises critical questions about the fine line between support and exploitation, especially in a context where youth players lack regulatory protections. At the heart of this article is a deeper dilemma: Can corporate sponsorship co-exist with ethical player development in African football? Or does the urgent need for infrastructure open the door to potentially harmful power dynamics?

Published in: October 18, 2025