By Ikenna Pius
Football academies have emerged as a great way for young Nigerian players to get clubs abroad. The job of a football academy should be to develop the skills of young footballers, helping them to be able to compete in this sport.
But what happens when they find players who already have the skills?
Football academies in Nigeria have taken it upon themselves to market the talents of those who are ready, by helping them find clubs, primarily in Europe, but also elsewhere. This is what most players want, and it is the main reason why they seek out academies in the first place.
Football Academies In Nigeria
Buruj Football Academy
Address: 8, Adeniran Oshodi Street, Ogolonto B/Stop Ikorodu, Lagos
Website: https://burujsportsacademy.com/join-us/
Notable Players: Edet Inyang (Leganes of Spain), Sunday Chinonso (Leganes of Spain)
Diamond Football Academy
Address: Bende Road, Nkata Ubeku, Umuahia 440236, Abia State.
Phone: 0806 157 1571
Notable Players: Kelechi Nwakali (Arsenal of England, MVV of the Netherlands, VVV-Venlo of the Netherlands, Porto B…), Samuel Chukwueze (Villareal of Spain, AC Milan of Italy).
Papilo FC Academy
Address: Owerri
Phone: 07038447147, 08066108842
Website: https://papilofcacademy.com/
Taye Football Academy
Address: New Owerri, Owerri 460281, Imo State, Nigeria
Phone: 0913 540 6642
Notable Players: Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester city, Leicester City)
KHP Football Academy
Address: 89 Egbu Road, Owerri 460281, Imo state, Nigeria
Phone: 0814 978 8444
Sports University Of Nigeria
Address: Idumuje- Ugboko in Aniocha North local government area of Delta State.
Phone:
Website: https://www.sportsuniversity.edu.ng
Siaone Soccer Academy
Address: National stadium, Jabi, Abuja 900108, Federal Capital Territory
Phone: 0909 872 2222
Galadima Football Club
Address: Area 3 Artificial Turf Football Field, Abuja
Phone:
Notable Players:
Ibrahim Saleh Yahaya (FC Zimbru Chisinau in Moldova), Sani Suleiman Abacha (Budapest Honvéd FC in Hungry), and Anas Abubakar Galadima (SFC Kalinkovo in Slovakia).
KIA Academy
Address: Plot 1176 Cadastral zone, Babafemi Ogundipe Blvd, Wuye, Abuja
Phone: 0810 649 0550
AS Roma Academy Abuja
Address:
Phone: +234915288001
Website: https://abujaacademy.asroma.com/contact-us/
Young Titans Football Club
Address: No 21, Nusa Amagbor Avenue, FO1, Kubwa, Gwarinpa 900108
Phone: 0708 776 2928
Youth Arise Football Academy
Address: 61 Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja 904101, Federal Capital Territory
Phone: 0803 379 1114
Website: https://youtharisefc.academy
FC Ebedei
Address: Ijebu Ode, Ogun State
Phone:
Website:
Notable Players: Paul Onuachu (Midtjylland, Genk, Southampton), Ajilore Oluwafemi (FC Midtjylland of Denmark, Groningen of the Netherlands, Brøndby IF of Denmark, Middelfart G&BK of Denmark), and Baba Collins (Midtjylland of Denmark, Vejle of Denmark, Alania Vladikavkaz of Russia, Dacia Chişinău of Moldova, and Ordabasy of Kazakhstan.)
Ejike Ugboaja FC
Address: Abuja
Website: https://ejikeugboajafc.com
Joseph Kelachukwu, (CSM Unirea Alba Lulia FC of Romania) Gabriel Abu (Corvinul 1921 Hunedoara FC of Romania)
HB Football Academy
Address: Abuja
Notable Players: Mustapha Isah Ubandoma (Randers – Denmark)
Derby Football Academy
Address: Abuja
Websites: http://derbyfa.com/
Notable Players:
Sidos FC
Address: Abule Egba, Lagos.
Website:
Notable Players: Akinkunmi Amoo (Hammarby IF of Sweden, Copenhagen of Denmark, Omonia of Cyprus) and Olatomi Olaniyan (OskarShams AIK of Sweden)
Midas Football Academy
Address: Gospel Camp Ground, Command Road, Ipaja, Lagos.
Phone: 0803 376 9034
Website: https://midasfootballacademy.com
Lagos Tigers Football Club
Address: 21 Biadou Street, Off Keffi St, Ikoyi, Lagos 101233
Phone: 0809 703 3911
HUI Spartans Football Academy
Address: Enugu
Pepsi Football Academy
Address: Enugu
Notable Players: John Obi Mikel, Joseph Akpala, Sunday Mba
Fanfaro Football Academy
Address: Akobo, Ibadan 200113, Oyo State, Nigeria
Phone: 0811 756 5873
Notable Players:
Lead City Football Academy
Address: The Sports Complex, Lead City University, Off Oba Otudeko Avenue, Toll Gate Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, NIGERIA.
Phone: +2349058246953
Kanu International Football Academy
Address: Several Locations Across The Country
Instagram: @kifanigeria
Lionheart Football Academy
Address: 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos 106104, Lagos
Phone: 0816 927 8867
Instagram: @lionheartfootballacademy
Website: https://lionheartfootball.com
ASJ Football Academy
Address: Owerri, West, Eziobodo
Phone: 0803 295 9785
Notable Players: Chukwudi Agor, Osinachi Ebere (Nacional, Plaza Colonia)
Jarule Football Academy
Address: Address: Eziobodo Community Futo, Eziobodo, Imo State
Phone: 0814 079 3215
Ejele Football Academy (Samba Boys Of Delta State)
Address: Sapele, Delta State
Notable Players: Emmanuel Obere (Shabab Al Sahel of Lebanon)
Itamah FC Academy
Address: 10 Okpe Road, Sapele, 331241, Delta State, Nigeria
Phone: 0814 703 5519
Dennis Football Academy
Address: Suite No 23 & 24, Local Government, opposite to Oghara Junction Market, Delta State, Nigeria
Phone: +91 98867 87892
Warri Football Academy
Address: Local Government Area, Ajamimogha, Warri 332101, Delta State
Phone: 0915 037 2940
Solute International Football Academy
Address: 5 Oranye Street, GRA, Onitsha 434106, Anambra State
Goddosky Football Academy
Address: Ezinitife, Anambra State, Nigeria
Phone: 0708 376 8187
Further Reading:
While there are literally hundreds of football academies (both registered and otherwise) in Nigeria, it is important to be very selective. If the purpose of finding a football academy is to sell your skills to European clubs, then one must choose those clubs that are already doing so – those who already have notable players in Europe.
