I had no idea what I was looking at when I first saw this picture. I found it stunning. It was part of this story. I still find the picture surreal and stunning, but as is often the case with these kinds of pictures, the image is too beautiful for the sad story it “illustrates.”

In March 2010, more than 40 Nigerians flew to Istanbul, carrying an invitation to try out with Turkey’s professional soccer teams. Within a week of arriving, the players realized that the promises had been false, that their money had been stolen and that they had nowhere to go but the streets.