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. At the 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 born in Abidjan. Jorien van den Herik was there to sign 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 youth education flew to Africa to take stock in the project and returned with a praising report. In January 1998 the ball got rolling: Feyenoord would start its own Football School in Africa.[4]

Former Feyenoord player 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 Royal Antwerp FC 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 was rebranded in 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]

The following clubs are affiliated with Feyenoord Gomoa Fetteh:

• ASEC Mimosas[11]
• Feyenoord Rotterdam

• Official site