Nigeria’s football landscape has been significantly shaped by visionary academies and youth football club owners dedicated to nurturing young talents and redefining youth football development. Among these influential figures are Churchill Oliseh of FC Ebedei, Adam Mouktar Mohammed of FC Hearts, Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed of 36 Lion FC, Samuel Olatunji Okuku of Tripple 44 Academy, and Kunle Soname of Beyond Limits Football Academy.

For the past two to three decades, these individuals have played a pivotal role in the development of youth football in Nigeria, establishing structured pathways for young players to transition into professional careers both locally and internationally.

This article delves into their contributions, exploring how their dedication and strategic initiatives have redefined grassroots football development in Nigeria.

Churchill Oliseh and FC Ebedei

FC Ebedei, established in 1998 with roots tracing back to 1993, is one of Nigeria’s premier football academies. It was founded by Barrister Churchill Oliseh, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree specialising in Sports and Management. Combining his legal expertise with his acumen as a sports businessman, Oliseh has built FC Ebedei into a benchmark for youth talent development and professionalism in Nigerian football.

As the elder brother of Nigerian football legend Sunday Oliseh, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of several top players, including Dosu Joseph and Sunday himself. His unwavering mission is to identify and nurture exceptional young talent, refine their skills at FC Ebedei, and facilitate their transition to overseas clubs, with a particular focus on Denmark.

FC Ebedei also serves as the African feeder team for Denmark’s FC Midtjylland, a strategic partnership that has enabled the successful transfer of over 200 Nigerian players to various European leagues.

Churchill Oliseh played a critical role in shaping Sunday Oliseh’s career by signing him to his first professional team, JAMB FC, and facilitated Dosu’s successful transition to European football from Julius Berger. Before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Oliseh’s commitment was evident when he arranged for Dosu to join the Dream Team by purchasing a flight ticket from Italy, a cost he personally covered, which remains unpaid to this day.

Acknowledging the decline of Nigerian football, Oliseh pinpointed the reasons many players fail to reach the highest levels of the game. Too many viewed football as merely a hobby, valuing it for superficial glory and temporary gains instead of recognizing it as a serious pursuit that demands professionalism and dedication.

Through strategic engagement with European football investors and administrators, Oliseh recognised that the most pivotal role in football development is that of the Club President.

FC Ebedei competes in the Nationwide League One (NLO), the third tier of Nigerian football.

Oliseh’s mission is clear and unwavering: to discover exceptional raw talent, develop these players at FC Ebedei, and promote them to overseas clubs as opportunities arise, primarily targeting countries like Denmark.

FC Ebedei stands as a beacon of hope and ambition for its members, followers, and community. No other team in Africa has made a similar impact on the current generation of players. Many graduates from the academy have reached the global stage, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s national teams.

Notably, FC Ebedei has established itself as the African feeder team for FC Midtjylland, a prominent club in the Danish Superliga. This strategic partnership has facilitated the transfer of over 200 players from Nigeria to various destinations, including Denmark, Norway, Austria, and Belgium.

FC Ebedei boasts significant transfers, such as Obafemi Martins who first made his big mark in European football at Inter Milan, alongside strikers Adeshina Lawal and Justice John Erhenede to Vejle BK in Norway, and forward Akeem Agbetu’s transfer to Kolding FC in Austria.

Other products of the Academy are; Stephen Ayodele Makinwa, Benjamin Onwuachi, Isah Eliakwu, Femi Ajilore and several others.

As one of Africa’s most respected football academies, FC Ebedei consistently produces elite players and is recognised as one of the best-managed football organizations in Nigeria.

Adam Mouktar Mohammed and FC Hearts

Adam Mouktar Mohammed, an accomplished sports administrator and businessman, founded FC Hearts in Abuja. His commitment to grassroots football development is evident through his efforts in nurturing young talents and facilitating their progression to higher levels of competition. Under his leadership, FC Hearts has established partnerships with a number of foreign football clubs aiming to elevate the club’s standards and provide broader opportunities for its players.

Beyond his role with FC Hearts, Mouktar Mohammed has significantly contributed to football administration in Nigeria, serving as the Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA), where he has been instrumental in implementing initiatives to enhance football development within the region.

Some of the youth products of FC Hearts are; Alhassan Yusuf, Alhassan Ibrahim, Ifeanyi Matthew, Chrisantus Macaulay, etc.

Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed and 36 Lion FC

Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed, affectionately known as ‘Haj Gafar,’ is the founder and president of 36 Lion FC, based in Lagos. Since its inception in 2000, the club has been dedicated to educating, developing, and promoting young footballers in Nigeria. Liameed’s comprehensive approach encompasses coaching, talent education, and scouting, contributing to the holistic development of players.

Under his guidance, 36 Lion FC has produced numerous players who have advanced to professional football careers both domestically and internationally. Liameed’s contributions to youth development have been recognised with accolades such as the African Achiever Award for Best Youth Developer in Sports.

Some of the club’s youth products includes; Imoh Ezekiel, Azeez Oseni, Yira Sor, Quadri Liameed, Samson Akinyoola, Muhammed Tijjani, Junior Ajayi and more.

Samuel Olatunji Okuku and Tripple 44 Academy

Samuel Olatunji Okuku, the founder and proprietor of Tripple 44 Academy, is one of the new-generation academy owners reshaping youth football development in Nigeria. Based in Ibadan,  Oyo State, Tripple 44 has become a major talent hub, producing exciting young footballers who have gone on to represent Nigeria at various international levels. The academy is widely recognised for its structured development model, focusing on technical training, tactical discipline, and career progression for young footballers.

Tripple 44 has strong ties to European football, facilitating direct pathways for its top talents. Notably, several players from Tripple 44 have moved abroad to join professional clubs, with some making their mark in Scandinavian leagues—one of the key markets the academy has targeted for player development. The academy’s growing reputation has earned it recognition among scouts and agents seeking Nigerian talents with a well-rounded football education.

Some of the youth products of the academy are; Victor Ozor Okeke, Peter Olawale, Abel Ogwuche, Emmanuel Godwin.

Kunle Soname and Beyond Limits Football Academy

Kunle Soname, a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and sports enthusiast, is the founder of Beyond Limits Football Academy, established in 2016 as the youth development program of Remo Stars Football Club. The academy gained prominence after a nationwide football tournament in Ijebu Ode in December 2015. Beyond Limits has made history by securing promotion to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) for the 2024/25 season with an impressive unbeaten record. The team, formerly known as Remo Stars’ feeders team, began their journey in the Nigeria Nationwide League (NLO) in 2021.

After rebranding to Beyond Limits FA in October 2021, they achieved promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL) in May 2023. During the 2023/24 season, Beyond Limits FA distinguished themselves as the highest goal scorers in the NNL, with an impressive record of three consecutive away wins. On June 12, 2024, they secured their spot in the NPFL by topping their group with 7 points, following wins against Inter Lagos and Madiba FC, and a draw with Ikorodu City. Coach Olumide Ajibolade and his team will face Nasarawa United in the semi-finals, building on their remarkable achievement as the only unbeaten team in the NNL 23/24 season. Beyond Limits’ success is a testament to Soname’s vision and commitment to youth football development in Nigeria.

These individuals exemplify the transformative impact that dedicated academy and youth club owners can have on football development. Through their unwavering commitment to nurturing young talents, they are not only changing the narrative of youth football in Nigeria but also contributing to the nation’s representation on international stages.

Adebayo Oluwasegun Samuel is a Sports Business Executive with background in Journalism. Between 2009 and 2014, he anchored ‘Unveiling The Next Stars’, a dedicated grass root sports show on Unilag 103.1FM. He is the CEO and Founder of Tosmicom Sports and Digital Scouting Africa.