Top talents identified at ‘Refugee Football Scouting Tournament’ in Accra

The Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra came alive over the weekend, as young refugee footballers from across Ghana showcased their talents at the Refugee Football Scouting Tournament, a landmark event designed to use sport as a pathway for social inclusion and opportunity.

The initiative, which was organised by the Amahoro Coalition in partnership with Samaritan Angels and supported by the Ghana Refugee Board and Challenges Ghana, brought together young athletes, scouts and dignitaries with a shared vision to identify promising football talent within refugee communities and provide them with access to structured development and professional opportunities, both locally and internationally.

With refugees, mostly handicapped in access to sporting and recreational facilities and opportunities, the tournament successfully provided a structured platform to identify exceptional football talent within this marginalised community for further development support.

It aims to transform the lives of these teenagers through the beautiful game of football, one of the most popular sports globally.

With the management of some top Ghana Premier League (GPL) clubs also available, the initiative is also designed to connect promising players with development opportunities and professional clubs across all Ghanaian divisions, including the GPL.

Ex-Black Stars Goalkeeper and Talent Management Expert, Abdul Fatawu Dauda, who played key role in players selection at the event, expressed his satisfaction with the level of talents that turned up for the event, emphasising that the country is full of talents at the grassroot level but lack of sporting facilities makes it difficult to identify them.

He urged for the construction of more standard pitch size astro turfs across various districts to aid in sharpening the skills and gifts of the young ones into future stars that will lift the flag of the nation high.

“I am highly impressed by the level of talents seen here. Even though the pitch quality is not too good, it’s easy to see a talent based on their body movement, ball control, sprinting and other little details that we look out for in a top talent. I am hopeful that we will be able to pick about five to 10 young ones here who will go on to receive support to advance their career,” he said.

Executive Secretary of the Ghana Refugee Board, Tetteh Padi, speaking at the event, highlighted the importance of recognising the potential of refugees, indicating that the tournament was not just about football but a symbol of hope, resilience and the powerful role sport can play in transforming lives.

“Refugees come with talent, qualifications and skills. This event fits perfectly into our policy of empowering refugees to contribute meaningfully to society as we hope to see more of the likes of Alphonso Davies, who himself was once a refugee in Ghana and emerged from platforms like this,” he said.

He also highlighted a strategic shift in refugee support, moving from purely humanitarian assistance to leveraging the human capital within refugee communities.

“This event makes it a drive from the point that refugees are human beings like all of us with the talents and skills, and if we utilise them, they contribute to the development of society,” he stated.

The Founder of the Amahoro Coalition, Isaac Kwaku Fokuo, reflected on the two-year journey to make the event a reality, stressing that sports provide discipline, constructive engagement and a potential vehicle for a brighter future.

“We have been working for two years to bring this to life, to mobilise young refugees and internally displaced youth through sport. Sports can be a powerful tool for economic development, discipline and hope. Our real VIPs today are the young players on the pitch. We believe that some of them may one day be seen on international TV,” he said.

CEO of the Samaritan Angels, Nana Yaw Amponsah, made a touching call for empathy and practical Ghanaian hospitality. “I would like all of us to imagine for a moment that tomorrow, we could all be refugees. That is just life,” he said.

His organisation, which brings expertise in youth scouting and football development, sees the event as a mission to offer hope and opportunity. Amponsah shared the unparalleled joy of watching a discovered talent succeed on the world stage, a feeling he described as “no amount of money can buy.”

The Ghana Football Association (GFA), represented by Gideon Fosu, brought greetings from the football fraternity. He personally associated himself with the cause, noting the unpredictable nature of life and pointing to the fact that one can become a refugee at no fault of theirs.

“It can happen to us too. We are here today. Next, tomorrow, we could be refugees. Today’s tournament is not a picnic. It’s about nurturing talent, changing stories and creating opportunity. The GFA believes in grassroots football, and we are proud to be associated with this effort,” he said.

The refugee football scouting tournament represents a forward-thinking shift in how refugee assistance is approached, from charity to empowerment. With decreasing international funding for humanitarian assistance, initiatives like this not only help refugees build sustainable livelihoods but also maintain their dignity and create shared value for the communities they live in.

Legendary Ghanaian footballer Agyeman Badu was also present as well as the Head Coach of the Accra Hearts of Oak, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani.

The tournament aims to open doors for young refugees to build new futures, using football as a powerful vehicle for social inclusion, youth talent development and creating sustainable livelihood pathways.