Simon Adingra recounts childhood academy scam that left him stranded at 12 | OneFootball

Sunderland winger Simon Adingra has revealed how a bogus academy promise left him stranded in Benin aged 12 after his family were tricked. He is now at the World Cup after missing selection for the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

According to Sunderland Echo, Adingra and nine other youngsters travelled from Ivory Coast believing they would join an academy, only to be abandoned without accommodation, support or money for food. He described the organiser as a crook who made up the story and disappeared with their money.

Faced with either returning home or waiting for a chance, the group stayed together and took odd jobs, washing plates in restaurants for a little money and meals. A fellow Ivorian then recognised their accent in the street, helped them find a house and set up a small football centre that grew into a real academy in Benin.

A turning point followed when Adingra went to a tournament in Ghana, where he was spotted by the Right to Dream academy. From there he progressed to Nordsjaelland and Brighton & Hove Albion, then on to Sunderland.

On 28 December 2025 he scored his first Sunderland goal in a 1-1 home draw against Leeds United. He then joined Monaco on loan last winter for an initial £870,000, with an option to buy for £16million, after he struggled to secure regular starts under Règis Le Bris.

Source: Sunderland Echo