The harsh introduction to life for Taribo West didn’t allow time for him to dream of packed-out stadiums filled with fans. It was instead replaced by the reality of living in a hostile environment. He and his mother were forced out, left to survive with little to nothing, causing more uncertainty about what life had planned for him.

In a country where opportunities are often dependent on chance, Taribo quickly learnt that survival was not optional. Football became his lifeline.

The community he was surrounded by would’ve consumed him; no future would’ve amounted to success if he hadn’t clung to the hope of playing high-level football. He played wherever he could, holding onto the belief that football would elevate him beyond his surroundings. What stood out was the urgency matched with the talent, the understanding that there was nothing to fall back on if he hadn’t made it.