Football is among one of the most popular sports in the world. Many of the best players come from numerous corners of the world. Nigeria is a country that has a history of producing a number of talents across various sports disciplines including football. Such names like Kanu Nwankwo and Jay-Jay Okocha come to mind.
They and other names have started their illustrious careers at a football academy. We will be taking a look at the top 10 football academy in Nigeria and their fees for attendance in 2024. We will discuss some of the qualities of each academy to see if they are the best fit for an aspiring footballer. Let’s take a look now at the following list below.
- Pepsi Football Academy
Established in 1992 in Lagos, the Pepsi Football Academy has a reputation of being one of the prominent football academies in the country. Over 3000 students between 6 to 18 have enrolled here and features over 50 coaches. Its alumni boasts a solid roster of professional footballers including Mikel John Obi, Dominic Chatto, Sunday Mba, and others. Many of its alumni had also earned scholarships to play at football clubs in the UK and other parts of the world.
Full-time and part-time training is available based on age and skill level. Plus, the training facilities are well-maintained. For 6000 to 12000 Naira, attendees will be able to develop their skills from coaches who have a reputation of creating world-class talent. Today, PepsiCo still sponsors this soccer academy and has the funding to maintain the facilities that will ensure excellent training and development for the future superstars of football.
You may be eventually betting on the young stars when they make their major league debut on platforms like 1xbets-egypt.com. The question is, what league could they reach to solidify themselves as legends of the pitch.
- Kwara State Football Academy
Located in Ilorin, the Kwara State Football Academy boasts alumni who have represented Nigeria on the International stage and in European Leagues. For almost 20 years, the academy has established itself as one of the top-quality academies in Nigeria with plenty of excellent facilities and skilled coaches with a laser-focus on developing the talents of attendees of all ages. The fee for this football academy is 80000 Naira, which is one of the more expensive academies on the list.
One of the more outstanding facts about the facility is that it sits on 35 hectares of land that features four well-grassed football pitches, a gym, student dorms, and a medical center. With plenty of space that it has, Kwara State Football Academy prides itself in becoming a premier football academy and the price tag it has reflects that.
- Barcelona Football Academy
FC Barcelona is one of the more reputable clubs in Spain’s La Liga. Nigerian footballers aiming to become one of the best in the world can train under the umbrella of a world championship caliber program. Students in Nigeria don’t have to travel to Europe to get the excellent quality football training at this Lagos-based football academy.
Here, young students will have access to top-quality equipment, skillful coaches, and the opportunity to maximize their potential in such areas like tactical understanding, technical skills, and so much more. Considering that the academy is tied to a reputable football program, it should come as no surprise that the fee will be at 13500 to 22000 Naira. Yet, that is a fraction of what you pay in Kwara State.
Nevertheless, the program may be the starting point for some of the future stars of Nigeria. Some of them might even come full-circle and compete for FC Barcelona once they have established themselves in the game of football.
- AS Roma Academy Abuja
The FC Barca football academy isn’t the only football academy in Nigeria with the backing of a reputable European football club. Making the list of football academy in Nigeria and their fees is the Abuja-based AS Roma Academy. The training is a reflection of the European model, thus giving students the confidence to learn under a successful learning discipline that has the reputation of creating some of the best superstars around the world.
One of the biggest dreams of any football player around the world including Nigeria is to play in Europe for one of the big leagues one day. Again, an alum of AS Roma Academy may experience that full circle moment playing for AS Roma or even one of the other major teams in Italy’s Serie A. The fee for AS Roma Academy will vary from different age groups, but can be quite pricey at around 1000000+ Naira ($1500 USD) but scholarships are available to those who qualify.
- Abuja Football College (AFC)
While the term fee is much lesser than AS Roma Academy Abuja at 120000 Naira, the AFC is connected with plenty of football organizations around the world. Nevertheless, it is a reputable program that has numerous alumni who have started the program on scholarships and have flourished in their careers in international leagues. Their facilities have included classrooms for film study and skill development, training field, and a gym to keep themselves in the best shape while playing practice rounds on the pitch.
Future footballers may find themselves getting the best coaching and skill development in the game here. Even if they are not able to pay the steep fees that AS Roma Academy offers, AFC is an excellent alternative where they can get world-class coaching and mentoring.
No matter what football college you attend, you might also be breaking barriers. History always writes itself when it comes to first timers. Especially in sports like NASCAR in the United States where one driver is becoming the first Arab-American to drive for the brand.
- Midas Football Academy
Could this football academy be the “gold standard”? This football academy in Nigeria and their fees might be reasonable for young footballers and their parents. The fees range from 10000 to 20000 Naira. Since 2006, it has been the academy in Lagos that has been known for not only focusing on developing football skills for young and upcoming talent, but also nurturing them academically as well.
This combination of education and skill development in the sport of football are perhaps two of the most impressive features of the program. It is always a good idea for footballers to stick to academic priorities while they are also focusing on improving their footballing skills and taking their game to the next level.
- Papilo Football Academy
Located in Owerri, the Papilo Football Academy was founded by Nwanko Kanu. Developmental talent at this academy are typically scouted by local and international clubs. The fees are ranging anywhere from 10000 to 18000 Naira, which is reasonable for young footballers and their parents. While it might be considered one of the lesser known football academies, that doesn’t mean some of the future talent of the world won’t thrive here.
Papilo does have great training facilities and a wide variety of experienced coaches that provide excellent mentorship and skill development for young players. With the backing of one of the best football legends in Nigeria, its upwards trajectory in popularity will have no trouble slowing down any time soon.
- SiaOne Soccer Academy
The Abuja-based SiaOne Soccer Academy is owned by Samson Siasia that not only focuses on helping young players hone their footballing skills, but also be able to get the academic education they need in order to maximize their potential for life outside of football. The fees are variable starting from 8000 Naira to 15000 – which will depend on the age and the training level. Nevertheless, the school focuses on a holistic approach to football and allows players to be able to be dedicated to both the game of football and the classroom.
For parents that care about both their child’s education and their football future, academies like this can be an excellent option. For the fees that it goes for, this can be a reasonable option if affordability is something that is more of a priority.
- 36 Lion Football Academy
This school has plenty of alumni that play professionally both domestically and internationally. It also has established partnerships with numerous European clubs, which can certainly make it possible for young alumni to launch their football careers here and get a chance to play at their dream club in Europe. While the fees are unknown at this time, it doesn’t hurt to contact the academy itself for more information.
- Chelsea Football Academy
The Chelsea FC club of the Premier League offers a 200000 Naira per term academy for young Nigerian football players that want to develop at a higher level. Students will be able to receive international-class coaching from coaches under the International Development Program put together by the team. Thus, students will get the same European model style of learning so they can take their footballing skills to a much higher level.
The training fields are modern, the equipment is excellent in quality and functionality, and students will learn the style of play that makes Chelsea FC one of the formidable clubs in the Premier League. For one young football player in Nigeria attending the academy, it could be a dream come true to play for Chelsea.
What To Consider When Choosing From The Best Football Academy in Nigeria and Their Fees
Now that we have listed off the top ten football academies in Nigeria (and their fees), let’s discuss some of the considerations. As a parent in Egypt, you may be considering soccer academies in the continent of Africa that may allow your young footballer to thrive. Here’s a look at some considerations to go over before choosing an academy:
- Is it reputable? Reputation is something that will truly matter. The higher the reputation, the better it may be. Well-known football academies will have skillful coaches and staff, high-quality facilities, and other amenities. A top ten football academy in Nigeria and their fees will often reflect one another.
- Fees per term: Your budget could play a role in which academy to choose from. Be sure to look at the fees that you may need to pay per term. Nigeria’s currency (Naira) will be different from Egypt’s Pound. Remember that higher-end football academies can command higher term fees.
- Your child’s footballing goals: It’s important to keep the best interests of your young footballer at heart. What are their dreams and aspirations in the sport? If they are aiming to play at the domestic or international level, they might go to an academy where the style of teaching can match the high quality skill development that they’re looking for.
As a parent, you may be considering your child for a football academy either for developing their game so they can play at their school or even play at higher levels. However, it’s up to your child to decide if attending a camp to develop their craft is the best option.
Final Thoughts
Nigeria has plenty of football academies that have had alumni go on to make a name for themselves in the sport. Whether it was domestically or around the world, they have bettered their skills in the game of football because of the coaching they have received as well as prepare themselves for success off of the pitch. These academies will be the best fit for you based on many factors like the type of coaching they’ll receive, the facilities they’ll use to hone their craft, and more.
