Longing to know about the best football academies in Nigeria? This article would give you satisfying insights. So, let’s get started!
Football Academies are necessary institutions for grooming young footballers. These academies are usually under football teams which the footballers will be trained into. This would make these new players meet the team’s specific standards.
You can enhance and take your football career to any length by going through a football academy. The reason being that a large number of Nigerian remote base players and even National team players all experienced this stage. And they are truly doing well for themselves currently.
There are a lot of football academies in Nigeria. But, we are sure you would want to make use of the best of them.
Well, if you are searching for the best football academies in Nigeria, then you are in the right place.
In this blog post, we would be revealing ten (10) football academies we consider the best in Nigeria.
Top 10 Best Football Academies In Nigeria
Below are the best football academies you would want to enroll in:
Pepsi Football Academy–PFA
Pepsi Football Academy (PFA) was established in 1992 by Kasimawo Laloko. As a football school, it came in as support in 1994, from that point the name changed.
The sponsorship idea was developed by Lain Nelson, who was the then African Marketing Chief for Pepsi in Nigeria.
Currently, the Academy is still overseen by Kasimawo Laloko. He is a veteran coach and the Executive Director, a previous Manager of Nigeria National team, and Stationery Stores FC.
Some top-notch players in Nigeria today were raised by Pepsi Football Academy, players like; Mikel Obi, Joseph Akpala, Elderson Echiejile, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Dominic Chatto.
Their students are opened to several opportunities as 13 students(understudies) were allowed grant to ponder in the UK by Pepsi.
PFA is originally based in Lagos at Agege Stadium. But, it currently has 14 centers across the country, 54 Coaches, and more than 3000 understudies.
PFA also has an exclusive private school of International standard at 4 Sagamu/Abeokuta Expressway Orile-Imo, Ogun State. This runs the ordinary Nigeria auxiliary school educational modules.
Kwara State Football Academy–KWFA
This academy was set up by the Kwara state government in 2005. KWFA was an initiative of the then Governor of Kwara State Bukola Saraki and former Senate President of Nigeria.
KWFA started its activities with Clemence Westerhof, previous Nigeria national group specialized counsel. Currently, it is being overseen by Paul Ashworth. He is a Swedish specialized chief and previous.
Chief of some expert groups in Europe including FC Peterborough and Dynamo Kiev. Aside from Paul Ashworth, the academy has 7 different Coaches who also run the Academy. These coaches are all previous Nigeria International footballers with training authentications.
KWFA has created players like Ahmed Abdul Taofix, who is playing for FK Ventspolis of Latvia presently, Okon, and Yaya who were also in Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets team. The team won 2013 under 17 world cup in UAE.
The KWFA currently has 150 students, with an age range of (13-21 years).
This Academy can suit 200 students, 4 standard pitches, an exercise room, 3 squares of 27 classrooms, and a therapeutic focus.
KWFA runs a mix of Nigeria and British instructive educational modules.
Abuja Football College–AFC
Abuja Football Academy was established in January 2012 by Gabriel Newton, originator and FIFA Licensed educator. In association with Haruna Abba.
AFC took an interest in the FCT Federations cup and won. Thus picked to speak at the national level in Abuja.
They also won the under 20 solidarity football rivalry labeled FCT 2013.
They achieved semi-finals of Croatia soccer competition-crushing FC Zagreb ace club and Croatia’s under 21 National Team, in 2013.
The Academy’s preparing center is situated at Wuse, Abuja Municipals Bwari. It has a private suite that obliges 120 students.
AFC has a school joined to it, with Wendy Cameron as the foremost. They run the USA instructive educational modules.
Midas Football Academy–MFA
Midas Football Academy was established in November 2006. With the point of finding youthful capable footballers in Nigeria and the rest of Africa and improving them. This academy is working in association with the Nigeria Football Federation.
MFA joins forces with soccer Academies and youth clubs in Czech Republic, Portugal, United Kingdom, and the USA. To enable their Students (players) to have a trade program and attempt outs year long.
Papilo Football Academy–PNKFA
PNKFA was established in 2001 by Kanu Nwankwo a.k.a Papilo who has played for clubs like Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Portsmouth.
The Academy has successfully transferred more than 10 players to various Clubs abroad. Among them is Joel Obi who is at present playing for Torino and Samuel Okoro of Besiktas.
Papilo who is associated with football universally, utilizes that to acquire worldwide mentors like Gray Smith, Bryan Robson.. among others to prepare the students for short courses.
PNKFA has over 200 players in Nwankwo Kanu’s private home at Egbu Owerri road.
However, Kanu Nwankwo is currently building what might be the biggest football institute in Africa. And it is available to under 15, 17, and 18 students.
African Touch Soccer Academy–ATSA
African Touch Football Academy was established in 2002 by Ash Rahman. Ash Rahman is the Coach and Director of the Academy. Assisted by Zahid Hossam. Zahid was once part of the coaching crew of the Iraq national team.
This Academy has successfully transferred some of its products to foreign clubs. In the likes of Samuel Oji, transferred to the Arsenal youth team, Abdul Koysor, transferred to Charlton Athletics and Leo Fisher to Watford FC.
ATFA is well established in London and it is a place where scouts often visit to pick up some students that meet certain specified conditions as required by their clubs. They are also affiliated with Puma and Sports Solutions UK.
ATFA is located in Abuja at house 56, Second Crescent, Abuja Municipal, Wuse. It has good facilities in place, to train its students and accommodation that can take about 259 students.
City Of David Football Academy–CODA
CODA was established in 2009 by the City of David Parish of Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Lagos. As a feeder team to the City of David United Football Club, COD first team, contending in Nigeria National League (NNL).
This Academy has an organization association with Bolton Wanderers of England and these two groups share assets.
COD United FC had effectively exchanged around 7 players to the UK based club.
CODA has around 700 students in it’s under 10, Under 12, under 14, under 16, under 21, and also in the principal team.
CODA has three instructional centers in three distinct areas. At Onikan stadium, Kings school pitch Lagos and Green spring school Lekki.
Edo State Academicals–ESA
ESA was established in 2007 by the Edo State Government. As a football activity to sustain extraordinary abilities within the state.
The academy rose to the spotlight after one of its students, Kelechi Ihenacho was picked by the under 17 team. And winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) grant in the 2013 FIFA under 17 World cup.
Its students have been picked every once in a while, to join the Nigerian under 17 team, the Golden Eaglet, who is trained by Emmanuel Amunike. ESA has also graduated 2 understudies, presently playing for Warri Wolves.
Buruj Sports Academy–BSA
BSA was established in 2007 by Rafiu Buruji. Rafiu is an alternative medicine doctor and publisher of Buruj Sports Weekly Magazine.
The academy’s preparing facilities are possibly the best among all other football academies in Nigeria.
BSA has a branch of the Academy in the UK. It’s students participated in the yearly Arsenal celebration and visits Villarreal in Spain. BSA had effectively exchanged a part of its players to various remote clubs; Ajax in Netherlands and Galatasaray in Turkey.
Pawas Soccer Academy–PSA
PSA was established in 2006 by Paul Wahab who is the sole patron of the Academy. The Academy is run in association with International Sports Management Africa–ISMA.
The Academy has effectively graduated 15 players, who are presently playing in different Nigeria Premier League and Nigeria National League separately.
Its preparing focus is located at Command optional school Zaria Road, Jos Plateau state. PSA admits students between the ages of 6 to 21.
These Football Academies would surely enhance your football career. Why? Because they are the best in Nigeria!
Please, kindly share your thoughts below!