Over 168 Young Talents Shine At Next Gen Drafts in Lagos
2 min read
By Sportsgister
No fewer than 168 promising young footballers between the ages of 13 and 15 took part in the second phase of the Next Gen Drafts held at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, Lagos.
The event forms part of the EA SPORTS FC FUTURES grassroots initiative, a programme designed to combine competition, structured training, and life-changing opportunities for young players from diverse backgrounds.
Participants competed in fast-paced 5v5 Rush matches inspired by the EA SPORTS FC 26 video game, before advancing into a carefully designed development pathway.
This included personalised coaching sessions led by LALIGA UEFA Pro-licensed coaches, aimed at nurturing both technical skills and character development.
The programme climaxed with an 11-a-side match against a local team, where standout performers were further assessed in a competitive match environment.
Following an exciting weekend of football, eight exceptional players four boys and four girls — were selected to attend an exclusive LALIGA training camp in Madrid, Spain.
The selection process was based not only on footballing ability, but also on key values such as commitment, teamwork, discipline, and effort.
The selected boys are Samuel Okon, Timothy Ijachi, Idris Noah, and Joseph Uloko, while the girls are Tosin Rafiu, Amaka Ibegbu, Rodiat Yusuf, and Sanni Aishat.
Speaking on the impact of the programme, Africa Managing Director Tresor Penku highlighted the significance of the initiative in Nigeria and across the continent.
“The event in Nigeria demonstrated how football can create meaningful opportunities for young people and their communities across Africa.
Through the Next Gen Drafts and our partnership with EA SPORTS FC, we are not only identifying talented players but also providing elite training, values-based education, and transformative experiences.
Nigeria has shown exceptional passion, quality, and commitment, underlining the importance of sustained investment in grassroots football as a catalyst for social impact and long-term development across Africa.”
The Next Gen Drafts programme will continue its global journey with upcoming stages scheduled for Japan (13–15 March), Morocco (27–29 March), and China (17–19 April), following the same format used in Mexico and Nigeria.
At each stage, eight selected players will travel to Spain on an all-expenses-paid trip, joining a final international group of 32 young talents eight drawn from each host country.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
