•••Tubaba Scouting Network Partners FIFA Agent to Bring Elite Talent Hunt to Akure
By Duchess Ifeoluwa
A major opportunity has emerged for young football talents in Ondo State and the Southwest region as the highly regarded FC Moyero International Scouting Programme prepares to make its debut in Akure, offering grassroots footballers direct access to international scouts and professional football opportunities in Europe.
The programme, widely recognised for discovering and nurturing promising football talents, is being brought to Ondo State through a strategic partnership between FC Moyero International and the Tubaba Scouting Network, a respected name in grassroots football development across Nigeria.
Unlike conventional football tournaments that end with trophies and medals, the FC Moyero International Scouting Programme has built a reputation as a genuine career-launching platform for young players seeking professional opportunities beyond Nigeria’s borders.
For years, the initiative has operated with a clear objective: identifying exceptional grassroots football talents and connecting them directly with clubs, academies, and professional football opportunities across Europe.
The programme has successfully facilitated trials, academy placements, and professional contracts for several young footballers who might otherwise have remained undiscovered.
At the centre of the initiative is Mr. Ebenezer Olarewaju Moyero, a FIFA-licensed football agent and Chief Executive Officer of FC Moyero International, whose extensive international network has become a bridge between Nigerian grassroots football and European professional clubs.
Through strategic relationships with scouts and football representatives in Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgium, and other football destinations, the programme provides participants with rare opportunities to showcase their abilities before individuals capable of transforming their careers.
Football stakeholders have described the programme as one of the most structured scouting initiatives currently operating within the grassroots football ecosystem in Nigeria.
The 2026 edition carries special significance as it marks the first time the programme will be hosted in Akure, creating a new avenue for football talents in Ondo State and neighbouring states to access international exposure without travelling long distances.
A major driving force behind the hosting of the programme in Akure is the involvement of the Tubaba Scouting Network, led by renowned grassroots football promoter TuBaba.
For more than two decades, TuBaba has remained actively involved in talent discovery, youth football development, and scouting programmes across Nigeria.
His commitment to grassroots football has seen numerous young players gain visibility through tournaments, talent hunts, and development initiatives aimed at connecting them with professional opportunities.
Observers say the partnership between FC Moyero International and Tubaba Scouting Network represents a significant boost for football development in Ondo State.
The scouting programme is expected to attract more than 20 football teams from different parts of the country, including Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and other neighbouring states.
The participation of teams from multiple regions is expected to raise the level of competition while providing scouts with a broader pool of talent to assess.
According to the organisers, the benefits for participating players and teams extend beyond competition.
Selected players will have the opportunity to undergo direct assessment by international scouts and football representatives, potentially leading to overseas trials, academy placements, and professional contracts.
The programme is also expected to enhance the visibility of grassroots clubs and football academies while promoting professionalism, discipline, and higher performance standards among young players.
Football enthusiasts have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention capable of unlocking new opportunities for talented youths in a region known for producing gifted footballers.
Stakeholders believe the programme could become a major annual football event in Ondo State, attracting scouts, clubs, and football investors from within and outside Nigeria.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, organisers noted that the programme is not merely about playing matches but about identifying talent, evaluating potential, and creating structured pathways to professional football careers.
For many of the young players expected to participate, the tournament represents more than just another competition. It is an opportunity to showcase their abilities before international football decision-makers and potentially secure life-changing opportunities.
As anticipation builds ahead of the event, football lovers across Ondo State are looking forward to what promises to be one of the most impactful grassroots football scouting programmes ever hosted in the state.
