Fake Agents Threaten African Football Academies, Lawyer Says

Abiodun Sonaik, a sports lawyer and partner at Litho Legal Consult, stated that fake football agents are one of the greatest threats facing amateur football academies in Africa. He expressed concerns during an interview with New Agency Nigeria on Saturday, emphasizing that fraudulent agents damage player development and undermine trust within the sport.

Sonaik noted that the issue is not due to a lack of talent but rather the emergence of fake agents who frequently contact academy owners with false claims of connections to clubs in Europe and Asia. These fraudsters often send fake invitation letters and transfer documents to extract large sums of money from unsuspecting victims.

Sonaik mentioned that these scammers promise non-existent trial contracts and visas, leading to financial losses and wasted time for academies. He called for greater awareness of fraudulent agents and the need to address this problem.

Sonaik will lead a discussion on fraud prevention at the Elit Football Management Business Masterclass scheduled for July 10-11, 2026, in Lagos.