A Nigerian-American soccer administrator, Adesile Okeowo, has said Nigeria is failing to fully harness its vast football talent because of inadequate grassroots development, limited playing facilities and a lack of continuity in the development of young players….
A Nigerian-American soccer administrator, Adesile Okeowo, has said Nigeria is failing to fully harness its vast football talent because of inadequate grassroots development, limited playing facilities and a lack of continuity in the development of young players.
Okeowo, the Financial Secretary of the Nigerian Soccer Federation USA and a soccer investor and player manager, spoke on TVC News’ Diaspora Connect, where he discussed how Nigeria could use football to deepen ties with the United States and create opportunities for young talents.
He said Nigeria had no shortage of talented young players but lacked the structures needed to identify, develop and expose them to international opportunities.
“My inspiration came from being able to expose these talents that we have to the world beyond what the world can see,” Okeowo said.
He said many talented players remained largely unknown despite their abilities, stressing the need to give them visibility and pathways to professional football.
Okeowo said Nigeria had not maximised the economic and developmental opportunities presented by sports, particularly football.
“Not at all. Nigeria hasn’t quite maximised the opportunity when it comes to sport,” he said, arguing that stronger grassroots development would help bridge the gap between young players and professional football.
According to him, many youngsters perform well at under-15 and under-17 levels but disappear from the football system because there is no continuity or sustainable development structure.
He identified the absence of a proper developmental plan and inadequate football facilities as major challenges.
“There is no proper developmental plan for this place,” Okeowo said, urging government to provide more football pitches and invest in grassroots development.
He said unused spaces could be converted into football pitches to give young players more opportunities to train and develop.
“There is not enough fields for these people to actually, these players, to grow and develop themselves,” he said.
Okeowo also shared how he has been using his position in the diaspora to create pathways for Nigerian players.
He said he contacts Nigerian clubs when he identifies promising players and seeks partnerships that can facilitate their movement to clubs and institutions abroad.
He also partners with universities in the United States to secure scholarships for Nigerian footballers.
“Every year I try at least to get one soccer player in Nigeria a scholarship,” he said.
According to Okeowo, some of the players, particularly female footballers in recent years, have secured full scholarships worth about $75,000 annually, allowing them to combine football development with university education.
He said he does not charge the young players he identifies but instead invests his own money, asking them to support others when they eventually become successful.
“I do not charge anyone. I invest my money on them and the only condition I tell them is this: once you make it up there, once you start making some money, please pay it forward,” he said.
Okeowo said the initiative has produced players in schools and football programmes in the United States, Russia and other countries.
He also highlighted the role of the Nigerian diaspora in using football as a tool for cultural exchange and stronger Nigeria-US ties.
He said the Nigerian Soccer Federation USA organises an annual Nigerian soccer tournament in the United States to celebrate Nigeria’s independence and showcase the country’s sporting heritage.
The 2025 edition, held in McKinney, Texas, featured 38 teams, while Okeowo said there were plans to explore the participation of Nigerian teams in future editions.
He also warned young Nigerian footballers against falling victim to fake agents and fraudulent promises of overseas opportunities.
“Don’t pay any agent for any deal,” Okeowo advised, saying genuine clubs seeking talented players would have a reason to invite them and could sometimes cover travel and accommodation costs.
For Okeowo, strengthening grassroots facilities, creating sustainable development pathways and connecting Nigerian talent with legitimate international opportunities could help turn the country’s football potential into opportunities for young people.
