Top 7 best sports academies in Nigeria

Are you looking for the best sports academy in Nigeria? Do you want to become a professional footballer like the world's best Ronaldo and Messi?  Are you looking for the best sports academy in Nigeria to learn different sports and become a sports

In this post, I will show you some of the best sports academies we have here in Nigeria where you can learn to become a successful sports professional.

In comparison with Europe, there are only a few sports academies in Nigeria and even Africa at large. This is different from what is obtainable in Europe where some of the top football teams in the world like Arsenal and Liverpool have home-grown players who are some of their best players.

In Nigeria and Africa at large, there are only a few sports academies. However, this narrative has begun to change as some players in the sports industry are beginning to look in the direction of establishing great sports academies where the best sports talents in Nigeria can emerge.

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Presently, there are a handful of sports academies in Nigeria where you can learn to become the world's best footballer, basketballer, or any other sport that is internationally recognized.

Below is a list of sports academies in Nigeria.

Please note that this list is not an exclusive list and is in no particular order.

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FCBarcelona Football academy, Lagos

FCBarcelona LAGOS, modeled on FCBarcelona’s own youth system, is a center for youth development and grassroots empowerment, using football as the medium of empowerment.

With professional nurturing from the FCBarcelona coaches using the FCBarcelona Soccer methodology, the students are taught the club values of ethics and coexistence that are so representative of FCBarcelona: tolerance, respect, solidarity, friendship, fair play, integration, effort, and happiness to enable them to succeed in their professional soccer career at international levels.

The coaching is based on two basic ideas: To teach players the basic concepts of football To ensure that they can successfully cope with any sporting challenges that might arise in the future The School is focused on developing the skills of the footballers such that after graduation, they can pursue careers as professional footballers with international football clubs.

FCBacelona LAGOS is the first of its kind in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. The School provides opportunities for potential footballers from all over Nigeria and other parts of Africa to receive first-class training to hone their football skills.

The academy is located at Teslim Balogun Stadium Complex, Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Pepsi Football Academy, Lagos

Established in November 1992 by Kashimawo Laloko as a football school and based at the Agege Stadium (courtesy of the Lagos State Sports Council) the initiative secured the total backing of Pepsi in 1994 and has, since then, been titled the Pepsi Football Academy.

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The Pepsi Football Academy, over the years, has developed and grown into one of the most prestigious football academies in Nigeria.

Today, the Pepsi Football Academy comprises over 3,000 registered students aged between 6-18 years and operates throughout the year from 14 separate training centres and 54 coaches across Nigeria.

The Academy was established in 1992. Originally based in Lagos at the Agege Stadium in Nigeria, it now has 14 centres across the country and has over 3000 students.

Footballers who started their careers at the academy include John Obi Mikel, Sunday Mba, Obi Eze Tobi, Dominic Chatto, Echiabhi Okodugha, Joseph Akpala, Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé, Conquest Osaroigwe, Soga Sambo and Yinka Adedeji.

In 2006, the Academy set up a UK scholarship scheme, which has awarded scholarships to 13 players. The first recipient was Michael Oluwatosin.

Kwara State Football Academy

Kwara Football Academy (KFA), an initiative of the Former Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki was opened by the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Issau Hayatou in 2005 to discover young soccer talents in Nigeria and the rest of Africa and make them better persons in the society.

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The academy’s focus is on skill development. It is open to all regardless of the place of origin. The academy currently has seven coaches who are all former international football players with coaching certificates.

The Kwara Football Academy is a private initiative that was brought to life with the support of the State Government. It was established as a centre for youths’ development, using football as the medium of empowerment.

The academy provides a conducive and unique surrounding to keep youths away from drugs, violence, and other unhealthy activities. With about 150 students currently, KFA is aimed at training footballers between the ages of 10 and 20 years to compete favourably with their counterparts at international levels.

Abuja Football College

AFC was built up in January 2012 by Gabriel Newton, originator/FIFA Licensed educator, and in association with Haruna Abba. Abuja Football College (AFC) took an interest and won the FCT Federations glass thus picked to speak to Abuja at the national level.

They won the under-20 solidarity football rivalry labeled FCT 2013, where they beat groups like Pepsi Football Academy, and Kwara state Football institute.

Papilo Football Academy

The Papilo Football Academy was established to groom young players and train them to become full-grown pro footballers. The academy was founded in 2020 by Kanu Nwankwu, Alias Papilo.

The founder of the Academy, Kanu Nwankwu is a product of an academy and he wants to use the platform to discover raw talents from their various localities in Nigeria.

Since its inception, the academy has produced great young players who have turned out to be players on the Nigerian national team and even in various international clubs abroad.

City of David Football Academy, Lagos

City of David United Football Club, popularly known as COD United is a Nigerian professional football club based in Lagos State, Nigeria. They play in the Nigeria National League, the second-highest level of professional football in Nigeria.

The club was established in 2007 by the City of David parish of Redeemed Christian Church of God and plays its home games at Onikan Stadium. In May 2013, the team won the Lagos State FA Cup, by defeating MFM FC and represented the state at the National level.

It also has partnership agreements with Bolton Wanderers and Bournemouth of England. COD United F.C runs 7 football teams, including U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, and U-21 teams. Each of these teams is managed by a head coach, while a technical director oversees the entire COD United soccer structure.

The International Sports Academy

The International (Sports) Academy (TIA) is Nigeria's first and only multi-sports secondary school for young boys and girls with an interest in and talent and passion for sports.

TIA was established in 2007 by an ex-international football player, sports analyst, and administrator, and author; Chief Segun Odegbami (MON).

The school runs a 6-year curriculum (JSS1 - SS3) during which students have the opportunity of a quality academic program combined quality an intensive athletic program of their choice in readiness for life as a student-athlete in college or normal further education.

TIA offers a comprehensive development program through 5 sports academies; basketball tennis athletics table tennis and football. The school is located at Wasimi Orile. 54 kilometres from Muritala Mohammed International airport in Lagos and 26 kilometres from Abeokuta, off the Abeokuta - Sango Otta - Lagos new express road in Ogun state.