Over 168 talents participate in Next Gen Drafts in Lagos

Over 168 talents participate in Next Gen Drafts in Lagos 

By Admin 

Over 168 young talents, aged 13 to 15, participated in the second stage of the Next Gen Drafts at Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Lagos. 

The event is part of the EA SPORTS FC FUTURES grassroots program, which offers a blend of competition, training, and transformative experiences for youth from diverse backgrounds.

Participants engaged in 5v5 Rush matches inspired by the EA SPORTS FC 26 video game and progressed through a development pathway featuring personalized training from LALIGA UEFA Pro-licensed coaches. 

The event concluded with a final 11-a-side match against a local team, highlighting the top-performing players. 

After a thrilling weekend of competition, four boys and four girls have been chosen to attend a unique training camp with LALIGA in Madrid, Spain. 

Selections were made based on both athletic performance and the demonstration of core values like commitment, solidarity, 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.

"The event in Nigeria showcased how football can create significant opportunities for youth and communities throughout Africa. With the Next Gen Drafts and our partnership with EA SPORTS FC, we're not only discovering talented players but also offering them elite training, values-based education, and transformative experiences. 

"Nigeria has displayed remarkable passion, quality, and commitment, reinforcing the importance of continuing to invest in grassroots football as a driver of social impact and long-term development across the continent,” said Tresor Penku, Africa’s Managing Director.

The upcoming stages of the programme will take place in Japan (13–15 March), Morocco (27–29 March), and China (17–19 April), and will follow the same format as the phases already held in Mexico and Nigeria. 

In each stage, eight selected players will travel to Spain with all expenses covered, joining an international group of 32 young talents — eight from each stage.