Open Access

ARTICLE

Exploring the psychological skills of development in talented young African footballers

Boris Tachom Waffo^1,2,*, Denis Hauw²

1 Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
2 Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland

* Corresponding Author: Boris Tachom Waffo. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa 2026, 36(3), 433-441. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2025.067520

Received 07 September 2024; Accepted 07 April 2025; Issue published 30 June 2026

Abstract

The Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence (PCDEs) are psycho-behavioral skills enabling talented athletes to excel in achievement-based contexts. Although Africa overflows with talented footballers struggling to develop locally, no study has investigated the PCDEs in African footballers yet. This study aimed to test the reliability of the Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence Questionnaire-Short Version (PCDEQ-SV) across three African football nations (Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon) and to assess and compare psycho-behavioral skills in academy footballers. Participants (n = 506) aged 10 to 23 completed the PCDEQ-SV. Results from factor analyses and Kruskal–Wallis testing support a good fit for PCDEQ-SV. In the overall sample, the least and the most developed PCDEs were coping skills, and evaluating performances and working on weaknesses, respectively. This study provides a reliable measurement tool to measure PCDEs in African academy footballers and to design interventions effectively.

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Keywords

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