How a Scot and an Egyptian saved a scammed Nigerian footballer

October 18, 2019

Credits: Moshood Afolabi, right, and Christopher Hannah, left, pictured in Mongolia [Courtesy of Christopher Hannah]

Lagos, Nigeria - A Nigerian footballer has returned home from Mongolia following an ordeal that saw him scammed by a shady agent who promised a glittering sports career that never materialised. Moshood Afolabi, 24, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Saturday, a day after he left Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Afolabi was trapped in Mongolia for 16 months. After his football contract was abruptly cancelled in August last year, he was left in the country with $150 and overstayed his tourist visa.

"I'm very happy to have gained freedom leaving Mongolia," he told Al Jazeera. "I didn't believe I'd be in Nigeria on Saturday. I didn't believe it. Now, I'm experiencing so many things in Nigeria. Fresh air, fresh food. I'm really happy."