President of the Nigeria Football Federation,NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, recently announced an exciting new initiative aimed at revolutionizing the country’s football landscape. In collaboration with FIFA, the NFF has embarked on a youth talent development hunt designed to scout and nurture the next generation of football talent. This initiative, which focuses on players under the age of 15, has already begun making waves across various states and zones in Nigeria.
Speaking on the program, Alhaji Gusau revealed that the federation had taken significant steps toward implementing the FIFA-backed project. “We have set up our team, and employed coaches, and they have gone around various zones and states to conduct scouting activities. They are currently working hard to identify talented players within the age groups of 13, 14, and 15”, he said.
Through rigorous scouting efforts, the NFF has identified 40 promising young footballers, all below the age of 15, who will now be placed into a structured training program. “These are the boys we are going to rely on moving forward. They will form the backbone of our future U-17 national team”, Alhaji Gusau explained.
In a departure from previous methods, the NFF plans to reduce its dependence on last-minute camps for selecting U-17 players. Instead, the federation will develop these players from a young age, ensuring they receive proper training and guidance. “With this talent hunt program, supported by FIFA, we are confident that in the next few years, we will achieve remarkable success”, the NFF president noted.
FIFA’s involvement doesn’t end with talent identification. There are plans to establish an academy for these young players, providing them with the right education and football training. This academy will serve as a platform for managing and nurturing the discovered talents, helping them grow both on and off the pitch.
Alhaji Gusau added that the NFF had employed coaches at both the state and zonal levels to ensure the effectiveness of the program. After scouting 100 boys from across the country, the technical team brought them to Abuja, where a final selection of 40 players was made. “We will focus on these 40 boys and, after every school holiday, bring them together for further training”, he shared.
This new initiative marks a significant step in Nigeria’s quest to develop its football talent pipeline, and with FIFA’s support, the NFF is optimistic about the future of Nigerian football.
