Chelsea Chief Scout Highlight Role Of Technology in African Football At Seminar In Nigeria

Chelsea Chief Scout Highlight Role Of Technology in African Football At Seminar In Nigeria 

By Admin 

Former Super Eagles' midfielder and Chief Scout of Chelsea FC in Africa, Seyi Olofinjana, has stressed the urgent need for African football to fully embrace technology in order to match global standards and unlock greater opportunities for players across the continent.

Speaking at the Beyond The Pitch seminar organised by AMAPRO African Development Project at the Ilorin Innovation Hub on Saturday 20th September, 2025, Olofinjana explained that data and technology have become central to modern football, particularly in scouting, recruitment, and performance analysis. 

He described adoption of those factors across African clubs as a "veritable tool" for facilitating successful player transfers to Europe.

"The use of AI, data, and technology education will contribute immensely to the knowledge and practical applications within universities and football clubs,” Olofinjana noted. 

"Understanding the available systems and integrating them into what we do will enhance best practices, especially in video scouting."

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain pointed to models by the English Premier League, EPL clubs such as Chelsea, Brighton Liverpool and Brentford where video scouting and data analytics are now integral to player recruitment and performance monitoring. 

He urged Nigerian and African clubs to follow suit in order to remain competitive.

The seminar also featured thought-provoking insights from other speakers:

Mohammed Elbadry, CEO of KoraStats, Egypt, highlighted the growing importance of sports analytics in tracking performance and preventing injuries.

Dr. Oba Abdulkadir, Senior Lecturer at the University of Ilorin, who spoke on how communication technology is reshaping athlete branding and fan engagement.

Shogo Shodunnke, CEO of Phreestyle Sports and Project Consultant for the Seminar also called for a revolution in Nigerian football through strategic innovation and technology adoption.

Discussions during the programme centred on bridging the gap between technology and football, with focus areas including building clear career pathways for young Nigerians in sports data, communication, and management; promoting collaboration between clubs, federations, and technology innovators.

The panelists also gave insights about leveraging football technology to market Nigerian athletes more effectively on the global stage.

The event concluded with a strong call to action, echoing Olofinjana’s message that African football must not only nurture playing talent but also master the technology that now drives success in the global game.