The just-concluded LaLiga Next Gen Draft Football Project has drawn commendations from key stakeholders following its successful staging in Nigeria.
The talent discovery programme is aimed at identifying eight outstanding young players for an elite development experience in Spain.
Platform for Grassroots Talent Discovery
The football scouting initiative was showcased during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos as part of the ‘LaLiga Talk and Tapas’ forum.
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The event brought together football administrators, government officials and private-sector partners, all of whom commended LaLiga’s long-term vision and strategic partnerships with EA Sports, Legacy Sports, FC Futures and Nigeria’s third-tier league, the Nationwide League One (NLO).
LaLiga Commits to Long-Term Presence
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, LaLiga Next Gen Draft project coordinator Carlos Casal said the Spanish top-flight league is committed to a sustained presence in Nigeria. He urged stakeholders across various sectors to tap into the opportunities the project brings to the country.
Casal explained that LaLiga EA Sports scouts would rigorously assess young players based on technical proficiency, vision, attitude and overall performance.
Why Nigeria Was Chosen
Casal said Nigeria was selected after research revealed the country’s strong presence in elite European football and the depth of its untapped talent pool.
“At the beginning, we carried out research on how many players born in Africa are playing in the top leagues in Europe. Nigeria was in the top three, with about 25 to 26 players, alongside Senegal and Ivory Coast. That gave us a very clear clue,” he said.
“Nigeria has a very large population and a very high percentage of young people, which tells us there is much more talent than what is currently being shown. That is why Nigeria is the right place to give opportunities to more people.”
Pathway to Elite Development
He added that the second phase of the programme, the FC Futures Academy Training, would provide selected players with access to tailored coaching delivered by UEFA Pro-licensed coaches affiliated with LaLiga.
Government Applaud Initiative
Special assistant on sports to Abia State Governor, Raymond Ukwa, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment Promotions, Green Amakwe, also hailed the initiative, describing it as an eye-opener for Nigerian football stakeholders.
Speaking after the forum, Ukwa described the engagement as timely and strategic, highlighting discussions around grassroots talent development, infrastructure planning, data-driven decision-making and the creation of sustainable sports ecosystems.
“LaLiga represents more than football. The Spanish league exemplifies strong institutional structure, effective governance, innovation-driven planning and long-term sustainability,” Ukwa said.
