Nigerian football legends Mutiu Adepoju and Victor Agali have identified grassroots scouting as the essential engine for the national team’s future success. The former Super Eagles icons participated in the 2025 Mayegun Ademola Adetifa Foundation (MAAF) Games in Aramoko Ekiti this past Wednesday, where they assessed emerging talent during the tournament’s final match.
Team Isao 1 secured the championship in a thrilling seven-goal encounter, overcoming Team Oke Oja 2 with a 4-3 victory to claim the second edition of the competition, while Team Oke Oja 1 finished as the second runner-up.
Adepoju, famously nicknamed “The Headmaster,” spent the afternoon observing the technical proficiency of the local players with the intention of creating a professional pathway for standout performers. He emphasized that these community-based tournaments provide a vital platform for young athletes who might otherwise remain unnoticed by mainstream recruitment networks.
“Definitely, there are good talents here. We have seen some good players that can be brought up. We are here to see them and every other thing will come later. We will do our best to make sure that we invite the talents or do something about it so that they will be invited,” Adepoju stated.
The former Real Madrid midfielder further advocated for increased governmental intervention to sustain the growth of local academies and clubs. He stressed that providing an enabling environment remains a shared responsibility between public and private sectors to ensure the continuous development of the sport.
“To continue to support football talents in clubs and academies. They should also continue to give them an enabling environment for sports development,” Adepoju urged.
Victor Agali echoed these sentiments, commending the MAAF organizers for their dedication to youth empowerment. He noted that the identification of talent marks only the first step, suggesting that a rigorous follow-up system is necessary to transition these players into professional structures.
“We have seen some interesting young players here. The next thing is to follow up after the final. We will continue to do our best individually and as a corporate entity. We can’t leave it in the hands of the government alone, so we will continue to do our best. Likewise, the people who have put this tournament together are doing their own best. We just have to put our efforts together to advance soccer and sports generally in the country,” Agali said.
The founder of the foundation, Chief Ademola Adetifa, explained that the initiative focuses on elevating Aramoko Ekiti youth onto the global stage. Beyond athletic scouting, the tournament aims to foster communal harmony and cooperation. Adetifa revealed ambitious plans for the 2026 edition, mentioning that the foundation hopes to invite legendary figures such as Nwankwo Kanu or Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha to further inspire the local participants.
“We believe that with the right guidance and support, these young individuals can go on to achieve great things and make a name for themselves in the international football arena. Apart from talent discovery, we are also doing this to encourage and promote unity and love within our community, Aramoko Ekiti,” Adetifa said.
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