• ‘Nigeria risks losing gifted players amid gap’

A former lawmaker in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olugbenga Omole, has stressed the need for increased government investment in grassroots football, warning that Nigeria risks losing a generation of gifted young players without sustained support for talent development at the foundation level.

Omole made the appeal during the grand finale of the eighth edition of the yearly Akogun U-20 Football Competition held in Ondo State, where Ore-Ofe FC clinched the championship title after a penalty shootout victory over Owase FC.

The final match ended 1-1 after regulation time before Ore-Ofe FC triumphed 4-3 on penalties, with Dogo FC securing the second runners-up position in the competitive tournament that has become a breeding ground for emerging football talents.

Omole called on both the federal government and the Ondo State government to prioritise grassroots football development, arguing that the discovery and nurturing of young talents remain critical to restoring Nigeria’s status among Africa’s elite football nations.

He emphasised that identifying promising players at an early age would expand the talent pool available to professional clubs and national teams, while also reducing the risk of losing gifted footballers who lack the infrastructure and opportunity to develop their abilities.

“One of the products of this competition is now playing professional football in Europe. Many of them are scattered all over the country, and we continue to discover them. We have seen about four or five players whom we are going to take to an academy in Abuja.”

Omole stressed that the initiative was not about financial rewards but about creating opportunities for young players to showcase their abilities and gain the exposure needed to launch successful professional football careers.

The organiser urged the government to provide greater support for grassroots football, noting that prominent Nigerian footballers, including Finidi George, Joseph Yobo, and Sunday Oliseh, began their careers from similar grassroots environments.

Representing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Special Adviser on Special Duties and Strategy, Gani Mohammed, commended the organisers for the turnout, organization, and quality of football displayed by the young players.

Aiyedatiwa said the event had demonstrated the enormous potential of young people in the area, stressing that improved sporting facilities could help the community produce football stars capable of earning global recognition.

He disclosed that the state government was currently working on a world-standard stadium near Shagari Village in Akure, while plans were also underway to develop more sporting facilities across the state, not only for football but also for other sporting activities.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain, Aloysius Uzoma Agu, popularly known as Aloy Agu, also commended the organisers of the competition, describing the final as a highly competitive encounter that demonstrated the determination and resilience required in football.

Agu, who also served as a former Super Eagles goalkeeper coach, identified good skills, dribbling ability, anticipation, positioning, and decision-making as some of the qualities talent scouts look for in grassroots players.

At the end of the competition, Ore-Ofe FC received N500, 000 as champions, Owase FC received N300, 000 as first runners-up, while Dogo FC, the second runners-up, went home with N200, 000.