West African Football Academy

Association football club in Ghana

Football club

West African Football Academy S.C.

Full name| West African Football Academy Sporting Club
Nickname(s)| WAFA
Founded| 2014
Ground| WAFA Stadium
South Tongu District, Volta Region, Ghana
Capacity| 1,000
Coordinates| 6°2′07″N 0°33′02″E﻿ / ﻿6.03528°N 0.55056°E﻿ / 6.03528; 0.55056
Chairman|  Karel Brokken
Website| www.facebook.com/WestAfricanFootballAcademySportingClub/

West African Football Academy Sporting Club or WAFA for short, is a Ghanaian professional football club based near Sogakope in the Volta Region. They are competing in the Ghana Premier League. The 2016–17 season was a successful one for WAFA as the side finished second in the Premier League,[1] beating Hearts of Oak 5–0 along the way.[2]

The club was founded in August 2014, as the Feyenoord Academy in Goma Fetteh, founded by Feyenoord from Rotterdam, and Red Bull Academy near Sogakope were merged.

## History

[edit]

### Feyenoord Academy

[edit]

Main article: Feyenoord Academy Ghana

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]

### Red Bull Ghana

[edit]

Main article: Red Bull Ghana

Founded in 2008, the academy associated with the team has gone on to produce coaches and players alike. The team reached the second highest league in Ghana in 2009.[7] Red Bull Ghana was relegated to Division Two in 2013.

### Merger

[edit]

In August 2014, Feyenoord Academy was rebranded to the name West African Football Academy.[8] 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.[9]

## Current squad

[edit]

As of 1 January 2021

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  GHA | Anthony Brebo
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
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
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

[edit]

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

-- | FW |  TOG | Josue Doke

## Club captains

[edit]

* Jordan Opoku (2003) (2005–06)[10]
* Gideon Waja (2016–2017)[11]
* Mohammed Alhassan (2017–2018)[12][13]
* Ibrahim Abukari (2019–)[14]

## Managerial history

[edit]

* Saddiq Abubakari (2018)[15]
* Prosper Nartey Ogum (2020–2021)

## Gallery

[edit]

*   *   *   *

## Seasons

[edit]

2020 -21 West African Football Academy season

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ghana Premier League Standings". FIFA. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
2. ^ "WAFA massacre Hearts". 5 June 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
3. ^ a b "Feyenoord Worldwide". Feyenoord Rotterdam. Archived from the original on 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
4. ^ a b "Feyenoord Worldwide". Feyenoord Rotterdam. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013.
5. ^ "Player Profile Mohammed Abubakari". GhanaWeb.
6. ^ "Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Abubakari has joined the Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam". BBC Sport. 17 February 2006. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
7. ^ Fürweger, Wolfgang (12 October 2016). Die Red Bull Story: Der unglaubliche Erfolg des Dietrich Mateschitz. Carl Ueberreuter Verlag GmbH. ISBN 9783800079506. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2019 - via Google Books.
8. ^ "Fetteh Feyenoord Academy changes name to WAFA SC". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
9. ^ "WAFA FC to switch home base to Sogakope for Premier League". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
10. ^ "Jordan Opoku - Soccer Player - Dinamo Tirana". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
11. ^ torontofc. "Gideon Waja | Toronto FC". torontofc. Archived from the original on 2024-06-15. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
12. ^ "Hearts of Oak sign Mohammed Alhassan in four-year deal". Goal. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
13. ^ "Hearts of Oak MD Mark Noonan hints at 'more quality signings' after Mohammed Alhassan deal". GhanaSoccernet. 2018-12-06. Archived from the original on 2024-06-15. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
14. ^ "WAFA SC announce squad and jersey numbers for 2019/20 season- Abukari Ibrahim named captain". GhanaSoccernet. 2019-12-28. Archived from the original on 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
15. ^ "Who is Saddiq Abubakari, The Head Coach Of WAFA SC?". 442 GH. 2018-09-28. Archived from the original on 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-08-27.

## External links

[edit]

* West African Football Academy on Facebook

* v
* t
* e

National football centres

AFC (Asia)|

* Australia
* Football Australia Academy
* China
* Evergrande Football School
* Guam
* GFA National Training Center
* Hong Kong
* Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre
* Iran
* Iran National Football Camp
* Iraq
* Ammo Baba Football School
* Japan
* JFA Academy
* Mongolia
* MFF Football Centre
* Myanmar
* Myanmar Football Academy
* Philippines
* PFF National Training Center
* Singapore
* National Football Academy
* South Korea
* Paju National Football Center
* Saudi Arabia
* Mahd Sports Academy
* Qatar
* Aspire Academy
* Syria
* Al-Fayhaa Sports Complex
* Thailand
* High Performance Training Center
* Nong Chok National Football Center
* Vietnam
* Hanoi FC Academy
* Hoang Anh Gia Lai Academy
* PVF Football Academy

CAF (Africa)|

* Egypt
* Wadi Degla Football Academy
* Zamalek Football Academy
* Ghana
* West African Football Academy
* Morocco
* Mohammed VI Football Academy
* Nigeria
* Blessed Stars Football Academy
* Kwara Football Academy
* Pepsi Football Academy

CONCACAF (North, Central America
and Caribbean)|

* Mexico
* Academia de Fútbol
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Dr. João Havelange Centre of Excellence
* United States
* U.S. Soccer Development Academy

CONMEBOL (South America)|

* Argentina
* Predio AFA Ezeiza
* Bolivia
* Tahuichi Academy
* Brazil
* Granja Comary
* Chile
* Complejo Deportivo Juan Pinto Durán
* Ecuador
* Casa de la Selección
* Peru
* Center of National Teams
* VIDENA
* Uruguay
* Complejo Uruguay Celeste

UEFA (Europe)|

* Albania
* National Sports Centre
* Armenia
* FFA Technical Center-Academy
* Azerbaijan
* Azerbaijan Football Academy
* Belgium
* Belgian National Football Centre
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bosnia and Herzegovina FA Training Centre
* England
* St George's Park
* France
* INF Clairefontaine
* Germany
* DFB Academy
* Italy
* Coverciano
* Lithuania
* National Football Academy of Lithuania
* Macedonia
* Training Centre Petar Miloševski
* Moldova
* Stadionul CPSM
* Montenegro
* Camp FSCG
* Netherlands
* KNVB Academy
* Portugal
* Cidade do Futebol
* Russia
* Konoplyov football academy
* Krasnodar Youth Academy of Football
* Scotland
* Oriam
* Slovakia
* National Training Centre Senec
* Slovenia
* NNC Brdo
* Spain
* La Ciudad del Fútbol
* Turkey
* TFF Riva Facility
* Ukraine
* UAF Training Complex
* Wales
* Dragon Park

italicised means academy in construction

* v
* t
* e

Ghana Premier League

Seasons|

* 2009–10
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

2024–25 Clubs|

* Aduana Stars
* Asante Kotoko
* Hearts of Oak
* Accra Lions
* Bechem United
* Bibiani Gold Stars
* Berekum Chelsea
* Dreams FC
* Heart of Lions
* Holy Stars
* Karela United
* Legon Cities
* Medeama
* Nations FC
* Nsoatreman
* Vision FC
* Samartex
* Young Apostles FC

Statistics and awards|

Top Scorer

Associated competitions|

* Ghana Super Cup
* Ghana FA Cup
* CAF Champions League
* CAF Confederation Cup

*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[DF]: Defender
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template