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In Accra, Souleymane Faye, 15, experienced one of those moments that shape a career. Wearing the Senegal school jersey, the boy everyone has nicknamed as ‘Commissioner’ made his mark at the 2025 African Schools Football Championship, to the point of leaving with a rare distinction: Best Player of the Tournament. This was no small achievement for a boy still finding his feet, and one that would take him to Morocco a few months later for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025… on the sidelines, as a ball boy.
“It means a lot to me,” he says simply. His tone is calm, almost shy. “It is not something everyone gets to do.” At his teenage age, Faye does not talk about personal achievements, let alone glory. He gives thanks. First to CAF for the invitation, then to his family and friends, his teammates and his coaches. The essential point is there: the story is one of teamwork before it comes down to an individual.
Yet it all began far from the spotlight. At the age of six, Faye kicked his first ball in the streets of Dakar, where football is learned on the tarmac, among friends, amid the daily hustle and bustle of Senegal’s capital. “I started there when I was very young,” he recalls. Later, school football gave him structure, rules and a future. He even tried his hand at baseball for a while, but football quickly took over. Quite inevitably.
In Accra, Ghana, Faye discovered something else: continental competition, pressure and high standards. One memory that stands out above all others – qualifying for the final. “It was wonderful. We fought hard to get there. The players, the coaches, everyone gave their all.” The emotion remains intact. Beyond the individual trophy, this tournament gave him one certainty: he belongs to this generation of African schoolchildren who no longer have anything to envy anyone else about.
Recognition sometimes comes when you least expect it. A few weeks after Accra, as he was getting ready for training, Faye heard some news that left him speechless. “My friends told me that they had seen it on social media. I had been selected to be a ball boy at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.” Silence, then a smile. “I was very happy. Moved, too. I could not believe it.”
Being a ball boy – the role may seem modest. For Faye, it is immense. “It is the first time I am going to experience this. I have to stay focused.” He knows what to expect: the noise of the stadiums, the excitement, the proximity to the players. He is already anticipating the difficulty. “There will be a lot of noise, but I will have to stay focused on the match and give the balls back on time.” His maturity shines through. Even though he will not be stepping onto the pitch, he will be close to the action. Very close.
He is convinced that this experience will leave a lasting impression on him. “I will get to see great players, legends,” he says with a mixture of respect and envy. Observe. Learn. Project himself. “That way, tomorrow, it will be me.” The future is never far from his answers.
Because Faye does not move forward without dreams. They are very clear. “Reach the highest level,” he says. Then he adds, without hesitation: “European clubs. Barça, Real Madrid, Manchester City.” He smiles, but his ambition is serious. The advice he gives to other talented young students reflects his personality: simple and demanding. “Work hard. Be focused. Be serious.”
In this still fragile rise, family is a pillar of support. He will leave for Morocco with his older brother. “They were very happy. They told me it was well deserved.” For his loved ones, this success is the result of work that began long before Accra. It is a shared satisfaction.
With the AFCON 2025 fast approaching, Faye makes no attempt to hide his impatience. “I am very excited, very happy. I think about it all the time. Even at night.” He does not yet know which stadium he will be assigned to, but it does not matter. The important thing is to be there, to experience the AFCON from the inside, to breathe in that unique atmosphere.
Today a ball boy, tomorrow perhaps a player. The story of Souleymane ‘Commissioner’ Faye is still being written. But between the school pitches of Senegal, Ghana and the stadiums of Morocco, one thing is already certain: African Football continues to grow from the bottom up, driven by the dreams of children who sometimes change direction faster than expected.
