No fewer than 720 young Nigerians are expected to participate in the Naija Drone Soccer League (NDSL), as organisers seek to use competitive sports to develop technical skills in drone piloting, engineering, programming and maintenance.

The league, which will feature teams representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, is expected to begin its national competition in 2027, following a nationwide screening exercise to select 20 cadet athletes from each state and the FCT.

President of the league, Sam Gaadi, disclosed this at the North-Central combine held at Starville School, Jahi II, Abuja, on Thursday, explaining that thousands of candidates had applied for places on the teams.

Gaadi said the selection process involved three assessment criteria: an aptitude test, a written purpose statement and a complex coordination test. Candidates would be assessed and ranked, with those obtaining the highest scores selected to represent their respective states.

He said the Abuja exercise is part of a screening programme across the six geopolitical zones, with a similar combine scheduled to hold in Gombe for prospective representatives of the North-East.

 

Gaadi said successful candidates would represent their respective states, undergo training with their teams and compete in the national league.

 

He added that the organisers were designing the competition calendar to complement the school calendar because most participants were students, whom the league refers to as cadet athletes.

“The league provides a platform to develop their skills in drone technology, whether in piloting the drone or becoming an engineer or maintenance person. That ultimately leads to a job that demands skills in today’s technological world,” Gaadi said.

He also dismissed suggestions that participants would abandon sports after acquiring technical skills, describing drone soccer as a way to sustain their interest in competition while developing practical expertise.

Organisers said the initiative was designed to introduce young Nigerians to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through an engaging sporting activity, while equipping them with practical skills relevant to emerging industries.

Chief Executive Officer of NDSL, Lieutenant Coopwood, said drone soccer offered a platform for young people to explore technology, develop problem-solving abilities and prepare for careers in advanced technological fields.

Speaking at the event, Coopwood, who is from Sacramento, California, United States, said the sport originated in South Korea and involved players using remotely controlled drones enclosed in protective spherical cages to score goals by flying through designated hoops.

He explained that the game combined the excitement of soccer with opportunities to acquire technical knowledge, including drone operation, maintenance, repair and programming.

“Drone soccer is more than a sport; it is a pathway into science, technology, engineering and mathematics — STEM,” he said.

Through participation, he added, young people could develop teamwork, discipline, communication and problem-solving skills while learning how technology works.

Coopwood said the programme could also help participants progress from operating drones to designing, building and modifying them, potentially opening career pathways in engineering, programming, aviation and other technology-driven industries.

“The opportunities are enormous. A child who begins by playing drone soccer today could eventually become a drone engineer, programmer, designer or professional pilot of unmanned aircraft,” he said.

He cited the use of drones in agriculture, filmmaking and infrastructure inspection as examples of how the technology was transforming industries, adding that advances in autonomous flight were expanding its potential applications.

According to him, Nigeria and other African countries must invest in developing young people’s technological capabilities to avoid being left behind as other parts of the world advance in drone innovation.

“Our decision to bring drone soccer to Nigeria is driven by this concern and by our belief in the potential of Nigerian children. We want them to have access to the knowledge, tools and opportunities they need to participate in the global technological revolution,” he said.

He called on schools, government institutions, industry partners and parents to support the league, stressing that its ambition extended beyond sporting competition to developing a generation of technology professionals and innovators.

 

He added that the organisers were designing the competition calendar to complement the school calendar because most participants were students, whom the league refers to as cadet athletes.

“The league provides a platform to develop their skills in drone technology, whether in piloting the drone or becoming an engineer or maintenance person. That ultimately leads to a job that demands skills in today’s technological world,” Gaadi said.

He also dismissed suggestions that participants would abandon sports after acquiring technical skills, describing drone soccer as a way to sustain their interest in competition while developing practical expertise.

“It is a platform that you use to keep your skills in a very passionate way,” he said.

The Guardian reports that the national league is scheduled to commence in 2027, with organisers hoping to establish drone soccer as both a competitive sport and an entry point into technology-related careers for young Nigerians.