Former Super Eagles player Victor Ikpeba has called for increased grassroots football competition initiatives to help uncover and nurture talent in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital, ahead of the finals of the annual Akogun Football Competition in Oka Akoko, the headquarters of the Akoko South-West Local Government Area, Ikpeba emphasized that the responsibility for developing the sport shouldn’t rest solely with the government.
“I may have retired from playing, but I remain actively involved in football. As a member of the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee, it’s our duty to support grassroots football. Everyone should contribute to the growth of football in Nigeria,” said the former African Footballer of the Year.
He commended Gbenga Omole, the competition’s organizer and a former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, for his dedication. Ikpeba, who was part of Nigeria’s winning teams at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, encouraged individuals, communities, and state governments to follow Omole’s example and urged the NFF to engage more in grassroots talent scouting.
“When the honourable (Omole) reached out to me, I was impressed by what he’s been doing over the past six years. There’s no better way to give back to the community and help develop young boys and girls. I know the people of Ondo State are passionate about football. My teammates and I are here to support this great initiative,” Ikpeba added.
Omole noted that the competition has already helped produce talented players, with around five now playing in foreign leagues. “The involvement of Ikpeba and other soccer scouts has been fruitful. We’ve seen local talents make it to clubs abroad. Football is a massive global industry, generating over $4 billion in revenue in 2023 and projected to grow to $5.65 billion by 2031. With proper development, the talents discovered here can become stars, positively impacting their families and communities,” Omole concluded.