Nigeria is one of the countries in Africa which has a great sense of participation and association with football. Nigerians love the sport and always display this via their exceedingly rare passion and participation both at the national and international levels. There are a deluge of football academies in Nigeria where you can learn how to become a professional footballer in Nigeria. If you are planning to learn football in Nigeria, it is a good thing. Moreover, attending the best academies in Nigeria will help you a lot in speeding up the rate at which you build a great career.
Top 10 Best Football Academies in Nigeria and their Fees
1. Pepsi Football Academy
Founded in November 2002 by Kashimawo Laloko, Pepsi football academy is situated in Agege, Lagos. PEPSI Football Academy is the most outstanding football academy in Nigeria. The academy has a huge reputation and, accordingly, has produced a raft number of players that have gone international. The academy’s interest lies greatly in helping young, talented, and skilled players to develop their careers and become international professionals.
The PEPSI Company in Nigeria is the main sponsor of the academy. PEPSI Football Academy claims that it trains over three thousand young players between the ages of six and eighteen. Some of the players that graduated from PEPSI Academy and have become exceptionally successful now are John Mikel Obi, Sunday Mba, Joseph Akpala, Osaze Odemwingie, Isaac Promise, and Elderson Echiejile.
PEPSI Football Academy also offers scholarship programmes for its players to further their academics and sports in the United Kingdom. Currently, the academy has about 54 coaches. The registration form for ages 5-14 costs six thousand naira only. For players age 15 and above, the registration form costs twelve thousand naira only. There are certain documents that you will need if you want to get into the PEPSI Football Academy. These documents include the original birth certificate, applicant passports, and medical reports.
2. Kwara State Football Academy
Located in Ilorin, Kwara State, the Football Academy is one of the best in Nigeria. The academy was primarily established in 2005 by the Kwara state government to empower her youths. Kwara State Football Academy trains players from all over the country. Currently, the academy has seven coaches that were once international footballers.
At Kwara State Football Academy, talented and committed young players are allowed to acquire a formal education free while training as professional footballers. The exams that players of Kwara State Football Academy can write are West African School Certificate Examinations (WAEC), International General Certificate of Secondary School Education (IGCSE), National Examination Certificate(NECO), Test Of English as a Foreign Language(TOEFL), and International Baccalaureate(IB). Students are exposed to areas of studies such as Humanities and Social Sciences, Technical and Vocational Studies, General And Applied Mathematics, and Natural Sciences at Kwara Football Academy.
Also, the training school offers a full on-campus boarding experience to its students so that they can concentrate more and have time to engage in more activities. Kwara State Football Academy claims that its facilities accommodate about 200 students. KWARA State Football academy admits youngsters between the ages of 13-21 years. The registration form fee for new players at the academy is seven thousand five hundred naira only.
3. Abuja Football College
Abuja Football College was established in January 2012 by Gabriele Volpi. The most important aim of establishing this academy is to discover and nurture football talents in Nigeria. Abuja Football College is committed to developing young kids, especially the ones from financially challenged backgrounds to become football experts. The main training centre for the training school is located at National stadium Abuja. Other training locations are in Owerri and Lagos. Abuja Football college trains about 120 students.
4. Midas Soccer Academy
Midas Soccer Academy (MSA) is another good Nigerian football academy. It was founded in December 2006 and is located in Ipaja, Lagos State. The main purpose of creating the training group is to keep discovering young talents and refining them into well-experienced and proficient players.
Midas Soccer Academy (MSA) is well-registered and supported by the Nigerian Football Federation and Lagos State Football Association. The vision of the training group is to produce top talents that will represent Nigeria in international competitions.
Many Midas Soccer Academy graduates are already playing for international clubs. The training group has the important and necessary facilities needed to build youngsters into professional footballers. As a Midas player, your profile will always be viewed by numerous football agents and scouts all over the world and also, will give you the chance to participate in trials and tours all around the world. The standard registration form fee to get into Midas Soccer Academy (MSA) is ₦77, 000 only.
5. Papilo Football Academy
Founded by Arsenal legend and former Super Eagles star in 2001, Nwankwo Kanu, Papilo Football Academy is currently one of the best football academies in Nigeria. The founder played for top teams such as Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Portsmouth during his career. Not alone did Nwankwo Kanu play with international and famous clubs, he also had lots of medals awarded to him. Moreover, his training team is a highly prominent and well-organized one.
Papilo Football Academy has successfully transferred over ten players to play abroad. Some of these players are Joel Obi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali, and Stanley Okoro. The admission form for Papilo Football Academy costs #12,500 only.
6. Barcelona Football Academy Nigeria
Barcelona Football Academy is another popular and efficient training group among the best football academies in Nigeria. The group only allows young players between the age of 5 and 18. Barcelona Football Academy is situated in Lagos and is immensely interested in developing talented youngsters, improving their capabilities, and placing them on an international level. The training group is commonly known as FCBEscola. FCBEscola majorly utilizes the FC Barcelona methods and training styles for its players. Barcelona Football Academy has about 400 players from all around the country. The registration form fee for FCBEscola is #13,500.
7. Chelsea Football Academy Nigeria
Do you intend to pursue a professional soccer career? Then, you should look forward to attending the prestigious Chelsea School. It is, however, located in London (the UK). In 2012, there was news that Chelsea was planning to open its soccer academy in the country. People from all over the 36 states were overjoyed hearing that information. However, it sounded more like a temporary camp. And it appears that if you want to join the official Chelsea soccer school for girls or boys, you’ll have to travel to London.
8. The International Sports Academy
The International Sports Academy is also known as Edusko football academy. The training group was founded by Chief Segun Odegbami in 2007. The founder is a popular retired Nigerian footballer. The International Sports Academy combines academic and sports learning for its players. The student of the group can get a secondary school certificate in addition to their football training. Apart from football, the international sports academy also allows its students to learn other sports such as basketball, tennis, and athletics.
9. Lagos Tigers FC
Lagos Tigers FC was established in 2012 and is based in Lekki, Lagos State. The academy trains young players between the age of 3-15 years. Lagos Tigers consistently fosters and encourages good sportsmanship, discipline, and build confidence and integrity. The group ensures that it studies and understands each player’s strengths and how to improve them with its technical training. Lagos Tigers FC works with the values, KICK- kingship, Integrity, Confidence, and Knowledge. Currently, the training group has about 200 players.
10. SIAONE Soccer Academy
SIAONE Soccer Academy was founded by Super Eagles Legend and coach, Samson Siasia. The training club is located in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital territory. SIAONE Soccer Academy is presently the best football training school in Nigeria. The main mission of the training club is to provide excellent basic and advanced instruction, in a peaceful and safe environment, where players can have an enjoyable learning experience that will prepare them for the challenges they face in life and also as professional footballers. SIAONE Soccer Academy always tries to gather the best available football talents and wholly develop them as individuals and subsequently, as professional players.