In this article, you will find the top football academies in Nigeria. We at Billzonthestreets have taken time out to narrow down the search for you. I have listed the top 5 football academies in Nigeria and where to find them below.
With the high poverty rate in Nigeria, youths no longer see education as a guaranteed path to success. Thinking outside the box by Nigerian youths is also one way they make a meaningful life.
They also get involved in so many side hustles these days, of which one of them is football. Football is a universal sport, which also helps keep them occupied while having hopes of a great career out of it.
To achieve success in the sport at the highest level, one needs to start from the grassroots, which involves football academies. Football academies train one on the basics of the sport. They also nurture one at the same time into becoming a success in the sport.
Without further ado, find below a list of the top football academies in Nigeria.
Top 5 Football Academies In Nigeria
Contents
Kwara Football Academy, Ilorin (KWFA)
Kwara Football Academy prides itself on being one of the top football academies in Nigeria. It was the initiative of the then Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and was established in 2005. The football academy operates out of the Kwara State Stadium complex in Ilorin.
The Academy is a self-styled one that focuses on youth empowerment through football. It aims to discover young soccer talents in Nigeria and Africa. They train football players and also give them a first-class education at the same time.
They have the opportunity to be available to football scouts from across the globe. Players between the ages of 10 and 20 are accepted and trained by as many as 6 coaches. Retired football players make up the coaching team, hence, they impact knowledge and experience.
We list the fees obtainable at Kwara Football Academy below.
| Day Players | Boarding Players | Day Students | Boarding Students | |
| New | N41,000 | N106,000 | N102,000 | N167,000 |
| Returning 1st term | N21,000 | N81,000 | N72,000 | N137,000 |
| 2nd term | N15,000 | N75,000 | N42,000 | N102,000 |
| 3rd term | N15,000 | N75,000 | N42,000 | N102,000 |
| Form | N7,500 | N7,500 | N6,500 | N6,500 |
| Students acceptance fee | – | – | N5,000 | N5,000 |
For more information, visit Kwara Football Academy.
FCBESCOLA Soccer School, Lagos
FCBEscola soccer school is the official soccer academy of the Barcelona football club. This soccer school is modelled on FC Barcelona’s youth system and is based in Lagos. The school takes pride in developing young football talents both educationally and on the pitch.
FCBESCOLA LAGOS offers talented youths the opportunity to gain a formal education while training as professional footballers. The aim is:
- To teach players the basic concepts of football.
- To ensure that they can successfully cope with any sporting challenges that might arise.
As part of the academic training, students will be exposed to languages, including English, Spanish, French, and other modern European languages; general and applied mathematics; humanities and social sciences; creative, technical, and vocational studies; and natural sciences as areas of study.
Their facilities are located at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Complex in Surulere, Lagos, while the soccer school is situated in Lekki Phase 1. The age range of talents accepted into the programme includes males and females between the ages of 6 and 18.
For more information, visit FCBEscola online, or at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
Midas Football Academy
Ahmed Bayonle Arashi established Midas Football Academy in November 2006, to discover young, skilled football talents in Nigeria and Africa. Midas Football Academy is registered and affiliated with the Nigeria Football Federation. They are also affiliated with the Lagos State Football Association.
The academy is committed to the growth of football in Nigeria and Africa. The outfit also takes part in tournaments outside the shores of Nigeria. The team trains at the Ikola pitch behind the Army Resettlement Center, Ikola, Ipaja Lagos, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7 am.
Kindly see the applicable fees below.
| Application Form | N5,000 |
| Compulsory Academy Uniform/Ceremonial Dress | N5,000 (per pair) |
| Compulsory Academy Training Jersey | N5,000 |
| Compulsory Coaching Fee | N35,000 (per annum) |
| Compulsory ID Card | N2,000 |
| Compulsory Medical Fee | N15,000 (per annum) |
| Project Fee | N10,000 |
| Camp Fee | – |
| Total | N77,000 |
For more information, visit Midas Football Academy.
Buruj Sports Academy, Ikorodu
Buruj Sports Academy is one of the top football academies in Nigeria. This Sports Academy, a well-thought-out venture, is in the business of training soccer players. This training includes services in branding, sports activities, and participation in major sports competitions.
The academy develops young talents across various positions in the football game. This is to enable them to compete favourably with stars anywhere in the world. They offer regular and advanced football sessions as well as academic courses for their students.
Buruj Sports Academy is based in Lagos and operates out of Ikorodu. Football talents between the ages of 9 and 22 gain entry into the academy as long as they pay the fees and submit the required documents.
The fees for acceptance into a full-time development programme at Buruj are listed below.
| 12 Months | N550,000 |
| 2 Years | N1,000,000 |
| 3 Years | N1,400,000 |
| 4 years | N1,800,000 |
Visit Buraj Sports Academy for more information.
Pepsi Football Academy
The Pepsi Football Academy is one of the most popular bottling companies. Established in 1992, it is also one of the most famous football academies in Nigeria associated with football stars. The likes of Mikel Obi, Elderson Echiejile, Onyekachi Apam, and Ezekiel Bala all developed at the academy.
They have since moved on to different clubs and also made a name for themselves. The Agege Stadium is the base of the Pepsi Football Academy but has about 14 centres scattered across the country.
This also includes a list of about 54 coaches training over 3000 students.
The list above is not exhaustive, as there are several football academies scattered across the country. Most of the football academies available are just establishments that partake in youth development. They also need to meet more requirements to become academies.
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