Bouba’s family paid €5,000 to two men who said they had a contract waiting for him in Portugal. The father sold a piece of land to raise the money. The men took Bouba to the embassy, got him a visa in two days — which was impressive, because EU visas in Senegal are hard to get — and then they flew to Lisbon. After that, the men stopped picking up the phone. There was no club. There was no contract. There was just Bouba in a foreign city with no money and no plan.
Pathway | How It Works | What Usually Happens |
Direct academy placement | European club scouts a youth academy and signs the player | Best case — structured, legal, supported |
Stepping-stone clubs | Player moves to Belgium, Cyprus, or Slovakia first | Mixed — some make it, many stall |
Private agent deal | Local agent promises a trial, family pays upfront | High chance of abandonment |
North Africa route | Player moves to Morocco or Egypt first, tries to go further | More stable than going direct |
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