According to former Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Eboué, failing to make plans for life after retirement is one of the main issues African athletes confront.
Former Arsenal and Galatasaray defender Eboue is now serving as the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Assistant General Coordinator (AGC) in Egypt.
The defender, who also featured at the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the Elephants, is playing a role in managing the event.
His first assignment with the African football governing body was the recently held Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
In an interview, Eboue said his current role at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is one of the steps he thought of at the point of retirement.
“You Have To Think About Your Future” – Eboue.
After retiring in 2016, Eboué says he has learnt more about organizing tournaments at a higher level, such as the Africa Cup.
“After retiring from football, I had to think about the next step, and CAF has given me this opportunity, and I’m grateful,” he told CAF Media.
“One of the biggest challenges African players face is planning for life after football. As a player, you have to think about your future and what you’ll do when you retire.”
He added, “I am so happy to do the job, even though I know it’s not easy. I am happy to participate in this tournament because it is a very good thing for the young players to see a legend like me.”
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“Football is my job; people who know me do so because of football. So, when I received the first email from CAF to be the AGC for the Under-17 AFCON in Morocco, I was so happy. Now I am here in Egypt for the TotalEnergies CAF U20 AFCON too. I am learning; it’s not an easy job, but to be on the pitch every game is a thrill.”
