Assessment method
Version 1.4 — 5 October 2026. Every player published on Akwascout is assessed with this method, so that clubs know exactly what a rating means.
What the scouting rating measures
The rating measures a player's observed playing level, compared with European professional football, on the date of the assessment. It does not measure a transfer value in euros, a guarantee of success, or the player's contractual or medical situation.
Each profile includes 4 pillar scores (from 1 to 5), a rating out of 10 calculated according to position, a current level and a potential, a recommendation, a confidence index, the date and the assessors' qualifications.
The 1 to 5 scale
Each criterion is scored against a fixed reference level, the same for every player. Half points are allowed.
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 5 Outstanding | Quality of a top European first division or of a senior international |
| 4 Very good | Quality of a European first division (Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, lower half of the big five leagues) |
| 3 Good | Quality of a European professional second division (Ligue 2, Liga Portugal 2, Challenger Pro League) |
| 2 Adequate | Quality of a good African first division or of a European semi-professional level (for example National 2 or National 3 in France) |
| 1 Insufficient | Below an African first division |
The 4 pillars and their weight by position
Technical, tactical, physical, mental. The criteria of each pillar are specific to the position (for a centre-back, for example: passing out from the back, heading, positioning, cover, duels). The mental pillar is the same for all: concentration, commitment, reaction after a mistake, communication, discipline.
| Position | Technical | Tactical | Physical | Mental |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | 35 % | 25 % | 20 % | 20 % |
| Centre-back | 20 % | 35 % | 30 % | 15 % |
| Full-back | 25 % | 25 % | 35 % | 15 % |
| Defensive midfielder | 25 % | 35 % | 25 % | 15 % |
| Central midfielder | 30 % | 30 % | 25 % | 15 % |
| Attacking midfielder | 40 % | 30 % | 15 % | 15 % |
| Winger | 35 % | 20 % | 30 % | 15 % |
| Centre-forward | 35 % | 25 % | 25 % | 15 % |
Rating out of 10 = 2 × weighted average of the 4 pillars, rounded to one decimal.
The rating ranges from 2 to 10: 4 matches a good African first division, 6 a European professional second division, 8 a European first division.
Current level, potential and recommendation
The current level shows where the player can play regularly today; the potential, where he can play in 2 to 3 years. These levels are indicative and reviewed every year.
| Level | Reference leagues |
|---|---|
| A | First divisions of the big five leagues |
| B | Other strong first divisions (Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey); second divisions of the big five |
| C | Mid-ranking European first divisions (Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Greece, Scandinavia); European second divisions; J1 League, K League 1 |
| D | Smaller European first divisions; the best African first divisions (Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, South Africa); other Asian first divisions |
| E | Other African first divisions, including Ivory Coast; reserve teams of European professional clubs; French fourth division (National 2) and equivalents |
| F | African second divisions; National 3, Régional 1 (France) and equivalent European amateur levels; lower levels |
| Recommendation | Condition |
|---|---|
| Sign | Adult player, rating ≥ 6.0, medium or high confidence index, no pillar below 2.5 |
| Monitor | Potential at least one level above current level, or minor player |
| Not ready yet | Neither |
Assessment rules
- Sources: a first report is based on 1 full official match; a full assessment on at least 2 full matches observed (live or full video), including 1 official match. Highlights alone are never enough.
- Confidence index: high from 4 full matches including 1 live; medium with 2 or 3 matches; limited with a single full match: the rating is published as a “first report”, and the recommendation cannot be “Sign”.
- Payment: paying for an additional video funds the analysis of one more match. The rating may go up or down; no payment guarantees a rating or a recommendation. A trial report from a professional club can also serve as a second source, free of charge.
- Two assessors each complete their form without conferring. Beyond a one-point gap on a pillar, a third opinion is sought.
- Professional club opinion: a trial report or a written opinion from an official or scout of a professional club, dated less than 6 months ago, may replace one of the two assessments if it allows the 4 pillars to be scored and the club agrees to its use. The club may be presented anonymously (for example “sporting director of a European first-division club”); the original document is kept on file. The other assessor scores the matches without having seen it.
- Independence: for a player managed by ADOUABO Sport Management Project, at least one assessor is external to the company and has no financial interest in the player's career. No payment influences the rating.
- Minor players: the recommendation is always “Monitor”, and no profile is published without the parents' written consent.
- Automatic calculation: the rating, confidence index and recommendation are calculated automatically from the assessors’ forms, according to the rules above. Each pillar is the average of the forms retained; when opinions differ on the current level or potential, the more cautious level is used. Until a rule is met, the profile shows what is missing.
- Identity verified: the “✓ Identity verified” badge means that our team has checked the player’s name, date of birth and nationality against their passport or ID card. The date of the check is shown on the profile. The document is never published and is deleted 30 days after the check. The “✓ Official info” badge means that the player’s name, date of birth and club are confirmed by an official source (website of a federation, league or club), cited and dated on the profile. These badges say nothing about the player’s level.
- Validity: 6 months. Reassessment is mandatory after a change of club or an injury lasting more than 3 months.
Our assessors
Players are assessed by qualified coaches who have signed the Akwascout assessor charter: independence, no financial interest in players’ careers, confidentiality, assessment based on full matches.
- A UEFA-qualified coach based in France
- A coach holding the CAF A licence
- A coach holding the CAF B licence
Each player is rated by two of them, independently. Assessors are presented here anonymously; their names are published only with their written consent.
Next step
From the Futurs Pro tournament (April 2027), the physical pillar will also rely on objective measurements: 10 m and 30 m sprint, vertical jump, agility, endurance (Yo-Yo IR1), body profile. Thresholds will be published in version 2.0 of this method.