West African Football Academy

Feyenoord's chairman Jorien van den Herik was given permission for the opening of Feyenoord's own football academy in the Ghanaian settlement of Gomoa Fetteh, just outside the capital Accra.[3] The go-ahead was given by the Chief of Fetteh in 1998 and the academy was opened in October 1999. At Feyenoord Academy, young talented African footballers could work on their football skills. In addition to helping their football potential the students were provided with formal education which was funded by Feyenoord.[3] The idea for Feyenoord's own football academy was formed in Abidjan.

Van den Herik signed the then still unknown Bonaventure Kalou and got into contact with the education institute at Kalou's club.[4] That same year the head of the education institute flew to Africa to take stock of the project and returned with a praising report. In January 1998, Feyenoord started its own Football School in Africa.[4]

Mohammed Abubakari was the first player that graduated from the academy and achieved a professional contract at Feyenoord.[5][6] Before Abubakari's move, Jordan Opoku spent some time at Excelsior and Antwerp before returning to Ghana.[7][8] In the buildup to the 2008–09 season, right-back Harrison Afful went on trial with Feyenoord, but was not offered a contract.

In August 2014, Feyenoord Academy was rebranded to the name West African Football Academy.[9] In the same year, the club took over the old Red Bull Academy near Sogakope and moved from their old location in Gomoa Fetteh to this new location in the Volta Region.[10]

As of 1 January 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  GHA Anthony Brebo 3 DF  GHA John Tedeku 4 MF  GHA Derrick Mensah 6 MF  BFA Faad Sana 7 FW  GHA Godwin Agbevor 8 MF  GHA Ransford Appah 9 FW  GHA Marvin Owusu 10 MF  GHA Augustine Boakye 11 MF  GHA Emmanuel Agyeman Ofori 12 DF  GHA Francis Boateng 13 FW  GHA Emmanuel Agyemang 14 FW  GHA Eric Asamany 15 DF  GHA Mohammed Karim Samed Abdul

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 GK  GHA Boliver Sarfo Owusu 17 DF  GHA Ransford Darko 19 DF  GHA Seidu Faisal 22 MF  GHA Michael Danso Agyemang 23 GK  GHA Sabi Acquah Ferdinand 25 DF  GHA Konadu Yiadom (captain) 28 FW  GHA Awudu Mohammed 30 DF  GHA Razak Simpson 32 FW  GHA Justus Torsutsey 33 MF  GHA Derrick Mensah Antwi 36 FW  GHA Issah Abdul Basit 40 GK  GHA Kwadwo Bonsu

Academy

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  TOG Josue Doke

• Jordan Opoku (2003) (2005–06)[11]

• Gideon Waja (2016–2017)[12]

• Mohammed Alhassan (2017–2018)[13][14]

• Ibrahim Abukari (2019–)[15]

• Saddiq Abubakari (2018)[16]

• Prosper Nartey Ogum (2020–present)

The following clubs are affiliated with Feyenoord Gomoa Fetteh:

• ASEC Mimosas[17]
• Feyenoord

2020 -21 West African Football Academy season

• West African Football Academy on Facebook