An institution designed to nurture young football players is known as a football academy. But, most frequently, it's pictured as a facility where young players can learn the fundamentals of the game and reach the club's high standards.
You're reading the right post if you've been looking for the top football academies in Nigeria that you can enroll in. However, did you know that Europeans rely on domestic talent since they can be acquired for practically nothing?
It is expensive to join a reputable football academy in Nigeria. Most training academies have variable registration fees (which can be decreased or increased at any time). Therefore, joining a reputable football academy typically costs around 70,000 Naira.
The cost of enrolling in any football academy in Nigeria varies depending on the following:
- Training period duration
- Ages of students (applicants)
- Academy resources
- The credentials of the training (school)
Comparatively speaking, Nigerian state-run football academies are less expensive than privately operated ones.
In Nigeria, most of the states having football academies waive enrollment costs for residents of their conditions while charging others. These youthful prodigies will develop into superstars if premier academies properly manage them.
Ideally, these Nigerian football academies will eventually lead you to those European teams. So grab a seat and choose out of the football academies listed below:
Pepsi Football Academy (PFA)
The Pepsi Football Academy was founded by Kashimawo Laloko as a football school at the Agege Stadium in November 1992 (thanks to the Lagos State Sports Authority). It became one of Nigeria's most prestigious academies in 1994 after receiving full support from Pepsi.
The Pepsi Football Academy allows young people to advance their football careers. The academy has trained instructors at 14 training facilities nationwide, serving thousands of kids between 6 and 18.
The academy is steadfastly committed to supporting upcoming, gifted, competent athletes pursuing careers as worldwide pros. Also, PEPSI Football Academy provides scholarship programs for its athletes to advance their academic and athletic careers in the UK.
Over the years, the Pepsi Football Academy has produced several outstanding football talents. For example, the PFA made individuals like Mikel Obi, Adeola Lanre Runsewe, Ambrose Vanzekin Babajide Ogunbiyi, Derick Amadi, Elderson Echiejile, etc.
Although they began in Lagos at Agege Stadium, Pepsi Academy now has 14 locations around Nigeria, and there are currently over 3,000 pupils enrolled.
Kwara State Football Academy (KWFA)
The Kwara Football Academy (KFA), a project of the former governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, focuses on skill development and is accessible to everyone, regardless of origin. Established in 2005, this is the only government-sponsored football academy in Nigeria.
Seven coaches, all former international football players with coaching qualifications, are now employed with the program. Clemence Westerhof, a former technical consultant for the Nigeria Super Eagles, founded the institution, which Swedish technical director Paul Ashworth now leads.
As well as teams like Dynamo Kiev and FC Peterborough, Ashworth has managed several professional teams across Europe. The coaching staff of the KWFA is made up of seven former Nigerian international football players who also hold coaching credentials.
At the moment, KWFA has more than 150 registered students. In addition, between the ages of 13 and 21, the academy admits young, gifted football players.
Potential football players can get a top-notch education while developing their game at the Kwara Football Academy. Then, international football clubs might pursue professional football careers.
The cost of the football academy ranges from 120,000 to 200,000.
Three categories are used to classify the students are:
- Students in the junior cadre range in age from 10 to 14.
- Students in the intermediate cadre range in age from 15 to 16.
- Students in the elite cadre range in age from 17 to 19.
The junior and intermediate group combines a management education with academics and football.
The academy is located in Ilorin's Kwara State Stadium Complex on a plot of land measuring around 35 hectares.
Email address: info@kfailorin.com
Barcelona Football Academy (FCBESCOLA)
Barcelona decided to run a football academy in Nigeria where they only accept children between the ages of 5 and 18 in exchange for a registration fee of 13,500 Naira (thirteen thousand, five hundred Naira).
Its primary goals are to give students a thorough education, develop their skills, and advance them to a level where they can compete internationally.
This is one of the worldwide soccer academies in Nigeria that aims to spread the Barça model and the club's operational philosophy around the globe.
The registration office for the Barcelona football academy is situated at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Complex in Surulere, Lagos.
You can pay with a debit card or cash at the point of sale. The customizable deposit option on the GTBank mobile app also allows for payment. You are following your payment.
You must show proof of it at the registration center at Teslim Balogun Stadium. Then, you may be confident that by working with FCBEscola, your football talents will improve to the highest possible level.
Abuja Football College (AFC)
The Abuja Football College (AFC) was created in January 2012 by Gabriel Newton and Haruna Abba. AFC defeated Pepsi Academy and Kwara State Academy to win the FCT 2013 under-20 unity football tournament.
In July 2013, Abuja Football College defeated professional teams like FC Zagreb and Croatia's under-21 national team to progress to the semifinals of a soccer competition in Croatia.
The AFC training center in Wuse, Abuja Municipality, Bwari, features a residential section that can house 120 students.
The academy also features a college whose dean is Wendy Cameron and which follows the American curriculum.
Midas Football Academy
To identify young soccer talent in Nigeria and the rest of Africa and develop them as better citizens, the Midas Football Academy was founded in November 2006.
The Lagos State Football Association and the Nigeria Football Federation recognize the academy's legal registration and affiliation. Young players have been given opportunities to demonstrate their talents to football coaches, agents, and scouts from Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the Americas, thanks to a network of international football clubs and football management organizations worldwide.
The Midas Football Academy's vision is to become Nigeria's most prominent football academy. All of Africa, to have global locations and produce players of the highest caliber for national teams and the international game.
The Midas Football Academy aims to develop the next wave of football's most prominent players and abilities while providing them with a lifelong education.
An entire season of membership with Midas Football Academy costs $77,000. (12 months). The cost includes instruction, examinations, one training jersey, and one celebratory jersey.
Compared to their value, the charge is the lowest you'll find anywhere in Nigeria.
The academy also aids players outside of Lagos needing a place to stay at their own expense. The academy is situated at Gospel Camp Ground, Command Ipaja, Lagos.
You can email them via:
info@midasfootballacademy.com
AS Roma Academy Abuja
Boys and girls between the ages 5 and 17 are welcomed at the AS Roma Academy Abuja, which provides the chance to study the methods and training regimens that motivated brilliant athletes like Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Florenzi, and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
The AS Roma International Academy program, known for the caliber of its youth team, is committed to educating and training young athletes while spreading the club's work philosophy and principles to the rest of the world.
Every player will be encouraged to realize their full potential while mastering the training and educational methods employed by AS Roma's Youth Sector under the guidance of the technical team and specialist local coaches.
Costs for AS Roma Academy Abuja vary depending on your age and category (for example, under 15). Attending the football academy ranges from 240,000 to 800,000 naira.
Buruj Sports Academy
Buruj Sports Academy is still one of the most important choices for any athlete who wants to excel in their chosen sport because there are no restrictions on what each player can accomplish and no forms of discrimination.
With the highest sporting ambition currently, including a deep interest in football, jogging, basketball, cycling, table tennis, and lawn tennis games while participating in other major sports, this academy has kept accurate to the established values.
The goal is to provide young players with a proactive platform to grow their abilities and potential as a precondition for joining the National Team and becoming thoroughbred pros, with a strong emphasis on grassroots play.
By providing a variety of opportunities for them to be in the right place under the right circumstances to excel via global exploit by participating in international and local tournaments and trials, the objective is to ensure that young, resourceful players are given a chance to get exposure and develop.
Buruj Sports House is located at 8 Adeniran Oshodi Street, off Olokodana Street, near the Ogolonto Bus Station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Academy Success
- BSA athletes have participated in international competitions held annually in the UK and attended by athletes from more than 20 different nations.
- They attained a third-place finish in the 2016 Dubai International Super Cup.
- Manchester City of the United Kingdom won both the 2017 and 2018 English International Super Cup editions.
- 2018 TTD Dubai Super Cup Young Champions in the United Arab Emirates
- In 2019, the English and Welsh International Super Cup runners-up finished second in the Kingdom.
The participants' international performances impressed the organizers. But, equally, they quenched the hunger of renowned club scouts looking for young prospects to sign, like Manchester United and Everton.
The age range for full-time football programs is 9–22 years. To get more info, reach them via @burujsportsacademy.com
The International Sports Academy (TIA)
The International Sports Academy (TIA) is a secondary school focusing on many sports for young boys and girls with a passion for athletics and an interest in competing.
TIA was founded in 2007 by a former international football player, sports analyst, administrator, and author, Chief Segun Odegbami (MON).
In preparation for life as a student-athlete in college or further traditional education, the school offers pupils the chance to participate in a quality academic program mixed with a quality and intensive athletic program of their choice during the six-year curriculum (JSS1-SSS3).
Through its five sports academies, the International Sports Academy provides a thorough development program:
- Athletics
- Basketball
- Football
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
It is 26 kilometers from Abeokuta, off the Abeokuta—Sango Otta—Lagos and New Express Road in Ogun State, Nigeria.
Papilo National Football Academy (PNKFA)
The Papilo Academy was established in 2000 to develop young players into mature professional footballers.
Since the company's founding, Kanu Nwankwo, the academy's owner, and graduate, have invested over 100 million Naira in finding and developing untapped talent from various communities. During brief courses, the pupils received training from renowned worldwide coaches, including Bryan Robson and Gary Smith.
Kanu Nwankwo won numerous medals while playing for elite teams like Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Portsmouth.
It's interesting to note that the academy has produced many players who have gone on to play for their countries national teams since its founding. Players like Inter Milan's Joel Obi, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Stanley Okoro of Battista are two of the more than ten players for whom PNKFA successfully moved abroad.
The majority of the players from the academy were also added and utilized to create the primary Papilo Football Club team. As a result, the team was promoted to the Nigeria National League (NNL) for three years.
The Leeds United Football Club in the United Kingdom is currently a partner of the Papilo Football Club.
About four (4) players from the Papilo Academy were asked to practice with Leeds United Football Club in 2018, and the growth was intended to continue in 2019.
Nwankwo Kanu's estate on Egbu Owerri Road, in Imo State, is home to the academy, which has more than 200 players.
One of the largest football academies in Africa, catering to students in grades under 15, under 17, and 19, is also apparently being built by Kanu.
Suppose you wish to play professional football in Nigeria. In that case, you can meet trainers like Kanu Nwankwo, Bary Robson, and others at this academy.
Lagos Tigers Football Club
Around 200 kids have been registered and trained since 2012 when LTFC started with just five members. Given the nation's resurgence of sports and healthy living, this figure is anticipated to rise.
The club is near the Elevation Church Marwa Bus Stop at the Greenfield Soccer Ground, Plot 3 Ayodele Odubiyi Street (behind Folashade Awe Street, Lekki Phase 1).
Based on age, three team categories are available:
U6 Recreation Squad (Clubs)
This squad is designed for young football beginners (ages 3-6), where we teach them how to have fun while playing the game. They practice only on weekends.
U8-U11 Tigers Developmental Team
The U8-U11 Tigers Developmental Team teaches football fundamentals in a fun and engaging environment to children aged 7 to 11. They may train three times per week.
The U12-U15 Development Academy Squad
The U12-U15 Development Academy Squad (Tigers) is exclusively available to academy squad members or older players ages 10-15 who want to pursue a semi-pro career. Also, they train up to three times a week.
A one-time registration fee is required to hold a spot after joining, and subscription fees are levied on a term-by-term basis. To register, New Members pay 15,000 Naira for families with one child, and 25,000 Naira for those with two or more. (One-time fee)
How Do I Get Enrolled in a Nigerian Football Academy?
Now you've been enlightened on some Nigeria football academies you can enroll your ward into, the steps highlighted below will help you know how to enroll in any of these academies.
Below are the quick registration and enrollment procedures for a Nigerian football academy:
- Obtain your registration form and have your football abilities and intelligence evaluated by going online or to one of the training facilities closest to you.
- You will be given an application form that you can take home if you are determined to be eligible.
- Please complete the paperwork and return it to your parents or legal guardians.
- Submit the forms and necessary papers to complete the registration.
- Upon approval of your application, you must pay the training costs (if not free).
Beware of scam artists who pose as agents or institutions. To inquire or to acquire the most recent information, go to these academies' official websites.
It would help if you also made an effort to get confirmation about the updated costs, amenities, features, and advantages of former or current students currently enrolled at any of the football schools listed.
