At the age of nine, Naby Keita joined Guinean club Santoba de Conakry, where he played until 2013. He then continued his career in Europe, starting out in Ligue 2 in France and then playing for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. He then signed with RB Leipzig in Germany, before moving on to Liverpool FC and finally Werder Bremen. Naby Keita is also the first Guinean footballer to reach the Champions League final.

“I am very happy to be involved with UNICEF to promote the well-being and rights of every child in Guinea. I intend to work, in my role as UNICEF Champion in Guinea, for the education of children and the promotion of sports in schools so that every child in Guinea can believe in their dreams and keep smiling. I hope that my journey gives hope and inspires many children,” says Naby Keita, Guinean international footballer.

“We are delighted to welcome Naby Keita as a UNICEF Champion in Guinea. His commitment to the children and young people of his country is admirable. I am confident that with his support, we can strengthen our efforts to ensure that every child in Guinea has access to all their rights,” said Félix Ackebo, UNICEF Representative in Guinea.

UNICEF Champions are distinguished figures from the worlds of music, art, science, literature, entertainment, sports, or any other area of public life who express their desire to contribute to the achievement of UNICEF’s goals in a given country. To do this, they commit to raising awareness of UNICEF’s activities and promoting the well-being and rights of every child.

UNICEF Champions work to ensure that children and young people learn and acquire skills, are protected from violence and exploitation, survive, thrive and live in a safe and clean environment, and have access to comprehensive social protection.

With unicef.org