
False Glory: The fate of Ivorian teens who aimed for football fame
Many children in Cote d’Ivoire grow up wanting to be the next Didier Drogba.
So what happens when you are offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move to Europe to chase your footballing dreams?
You simply don’t turn it down.
So it’s hardly a surprise that Ivorian youngsters Christian Kouamé, Samuel ‘Ndri Kouassi, and Thomas and Adam Kouassi jumped at the chance to move to Italy to chase their dreams of becoming professional footballers.
Little did they know that their dream moves to Italy would eventually turn into a hellish nightmare that would expose the sinister world of illegal immigration of minors in the world of football.
This is all exposed in the third and final episode of the gripping Showmax series False Glory, which is now available to stream on platform.
Watch the trailer for False Glory
The Baby Footballers is the story of the four Ivorian boys, aged between 12 and 17, whose parents agree to sign over guardianship so their children can move to Italy on the promise of footballing glory.
One of them, Christian Kouamé, is now playing for Fiorentina and the Cote d’Ivoire national team. But he’s the exception to the rule.
Another, Samuel ‘Ndri Kouassi, allegedly found himself adopted by a man he’d never met and then, after an injury, made to sleep in the stands, then released by his club, and was left homeless and to fend for himself as an illegal immigrant.
Samuel had picked up a serious ACL injury during his first few months of playing football in Italy. He claims he wasn’t given proper medical care, and was forced to return to playing football even though wasn’t fully healed. He was also shipped off to several football clubs on loan before being released by his club and was then forced to fend for himself.
Thomas and Adam were also simply told to leave the clubs they were signed for and were left to fend for themselves in a foreign country.
This episode examines the complexities of the situation, where desperate families gamble on the hope that their children might become football stars. Through interviews with Italian journalist Paolo Nencioni and former coaches, the episode paints a vivid picture of the often-overlooked dark side of football’s global talent pipeline.
This led to a groundbreaking illegal immigration case against the likes of Paolo Toccafondi, the then president of AC Prato, for importing the minors – one of the first cases like this to make it to trial in Europe.
“Christian Kouame made it,” says Italian journalist Paolo Nencioni. “He’s a player who at one point cost €15m and I don’t know how much he earns: definitely not a small amount. Others didn’t make it. The families, they probably have this lottery ticket in their head. It could be either the winning or the losing one. Perhaps, rather than saying ‘selling’ baby footballers, we should find another term, because nobody takes them and puts them on a boat and forces them to come here. It is a much more nuanced situation.”

Other interviews include Gbane El Hadj Seydou, the boys’ Ivorian coach, who adopted two of the children to get them into Italy, but later found himself sleeping in shipping containers as an illegal immigrant, and Filippo Giusti, the then president of Sestese Calcio, who adopted Christian and was then accused of illegal immigration, facing up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.
Seydou opens up on his nightmare experience in Italy, where he claims he was barely paid for his services and only given food as a reward for his work. He was also kicked out of his accommodation and slept in a football stand for months. He also stayed in shipping containers as an illegal immigrant in Italy.
There are also gripping interviews by journalists Christopher Gleizes, and Stefano Broglioni, as well as from renowned sports and law lecturer Dr Ini-Obong Nkang.
False Glory is directed by Arianna Perretta and produced by CMG Productions, who won Best Documentary at the 2023 Broadcast Digital Awards for The Footballer, His Wife and the Crash, and were nominated for a 2024 True Crime Award for Football Fraudster.
Arianna and CMG are also behind the recent Showmax true-crime sports series Dark Side of Glory, which investigated a Blue Bulls rugby player who became an axe murderer, as well as the murder of Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop, who’d just set a 10 000m world record.
False Glory is being distributed internationally by CMG Productions.
More like this

The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red
Catch all the action from the Chelsea v Liverpool game live on Showmax Premier League on Saturday, 4 October at 18:30.

Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television
Take a journey through TV history, exploring Black representation, from early on-screen appearances to modern creators, revolutionising the industry.

The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade
Will Arsenal's Gyökeres or Newcastle United's Woltemade secure a victory for their club on Sunday, 28 September? Watch live on Showmax Premier League.

Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend
We have a thrilling line up of football games on Showmax Premier League this weekend. Catch all the action live.

Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue
Its Red v Blue this weekend, with three blockbuster fixtures lined up to keep you on the edge of your seat. Stream them all on Showmax Premier League.

From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham
Ahead of the London derby between Spurs and West Ham, defender Micky van de Ven chats about his journey to the top.

Mhlongo's bold prediction: Pirates to clinch MTN8 Title for a fourth year running
Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo predicts his former club will go on to win their 4th consecutive MTN8 title.

Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax
With some mouthwatering football fixtures on the horizon, Showmax Premier League has you covered with all the action.
Laugh Africa Comedy Festival S2 on Showmax
Youngins S3, coming soon to Showmax
Showmax is the home of HBO in Africa

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City S5-6
Follow the hidden social circle made up of successful Utah women who have created their own paradise filled with luxury homes and shopping sprees.

A Nice Indian Boy (2025)
In this humorous, heartfelt romcom, a gay doctor brings his white fiancé home to meet his traditional Indian family.

The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red
Catch all the action from the Chelsea v Liverpool game live on Showmax Premier League on Saturday, 4 October at 18:30.

RSVP for a Showmax wedding: 40+ celebrations to enjoy
From surprise vows to family feuds, Showmax is serving up over 40 wedding-themed movies and series. We’re saying I Do to non-stop entertainment!
Latest Stories

The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red

The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade

Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend

Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue

Where to see the cast of Levels on Showmax

Showmax presents September 5: A riveting look at a pivotal moment in news history

From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham

Mhlongo's bold prediction: Pirates to clinch MTN8 Title for a fourth year running

Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax

Art, money and power: a blueprint for The Brutalist

Uncover the soul of South African football with the boxset of Giants

Rianza Snyman on Vaal Riviera and being a stay-at-home mom

The best Premier League signings of 2025's summer window

SA siblings’ debut film chosen for BFI London Film Festival

Simo Magwaza on his challenging role as De Klerk in Youngins

Christopher Jaftha gets top billing in raunchy Khaki Fever

Nkululeko Mahlangu on Makoto, marriage and more

Alexander Isak a great option for LFC's attack, say former Liverpool striker David Ngog

What to watch on Showmax in September 2025

Kate and Annie take charge in Ten Pound Poms Season 2

Tshepo Miya talks about being on Married at First Sight

Vilakazi's verdict: Sundowns to "edge it" in high-stakes MTN8 semi-final

Khaki Fever and more sexy Afrikaans movies and series

Rivalries reignite in thrilling Premier League games on Showmax