Connect with us

News

Raising Champions: Asisat Oshoala Academy Offers Support For Emerging Female Football Stars

Published

on

The Asisat Oshoala Academy (AOA) continues to make significant strides in Nigeria’s football landscape, not only by nurturing young female footballers into future champions on the pitch but also by equipping young girls with leadership, education, and life skills training essential for success beyond the game.

 

Founded by six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, AOA is a football and development academy focused on girls aged between 12 and 18. Its mission extends beyond football drills; it aims to dismantle stereotypes, empower young women, and cultivate leaders capable of transforming their communities.

 

On 21st April 2025, AOA, under the theme “S.H.E PLAYS,” brought together aspiring young female football players at the Femi Gbajabiamila Mini Stadium, Abalti Baracks, Ojuelegba, Lagos.

 

AOA trained over 150 female footballers through soccer skills sessions and mentorship programmes, with each participant receiving 90 minutes of football practice alongside comprehensive education on leadership and rights-based topics. Graduates emerge not only ready to pursue professional football careers but also equipped to make positive impacts within their local communities.

 

From discovering raw street talent to producing national stars, the Asisat Oshoala Academy is demonstrating that football can be a powerful vehicle for transformation, not just on the pitch but also in the lives and futures of young Nigerian girls. With continued support and resources, the next generation of African female football icons may already be training on the AOA turf.

 

Speaking on the vision and evolution of the academy, Head Coach Alabi Kazeem, who boasts over 28 years of experience in women’s football, expressed pride in the achievements thus far. He stated, “I’ve been with AOA for three years now, and there’s never a day I don’t feel joy seeing these girls grow. Many came from the streets, but now they’re on a path to becoming leaders.

 

AOA has already produced three players for Nigeria’s national teams. One of our stars, Seimeyeha Akekoromewei, played a key role in Nigeria’s U-20 World Cup qualification, later representing the country at the U-17 World Cup, and recently joined the home-based Super Falcons team.”

 

Coach Kazeem, who previously helped discover Oshoala while coaching at FC Robo, added that AOA’s widespread appeal is partly due to Oshoala’s global influence and legacy. “Asisat is a six-time African champion—it’s no small feat. Every girl wants to be like her. Coaches all over Nigeria are now reaching out to enrol their players in AOA.”

 

Lanre Vigo, AOA’s Academic Director, emphasised the academy’s commitment to holistic development. He remarked, “We’re not just training footballers. We’re building well-rounded individuals. Not everyone will become a professional footballer, but through our life skills programmes, they can still thrive in other roles within the sport, such as coaching, management, or media. We organise events year-round to educate and empower girls with essential tools for life.”

 

Vigo also called on corporate bodies and government agencies to support the academy. He stated, “Nigeria has immense talent, both male and female. We need to invest in our girls, provide them with platforms to grow, and we’ll raise the next generation of African female players.”

 

Oluwaseun Savage, Head of Operations at AOA, further elaborated on the academy’s practical approach to talent development. He noted, “We start early. We teach them not just to play football, but also to identify opportunities off the pitch. Leadership training has transformed many of our girls—they now speak confidently, articulate their thoughts, and advocate for their ideas.”

 

On the field, players are taught not only tactics but also geography, the history of stadiums, and international football knowledge. Savage highlighted that this multidimensional learning experience shapes well-rounded individuals capable of competing on a global stage.

 

Among the academy’s bright talents is Atojoko Hassanat, captain of FC Phoenix, who dreams of playing for Chelsea. She shared how football has provided her with direction and purpose, stating, “Lauren James is my idol. I want to be even greater than her one day.”

 

She acknowledged the challenges, saying, “Feeding and transportation are significant obstacles, but I separate school from training and make it work. Asisat Oshoala inspires me, and I aspire to surpass her achievements.”

 

Kazeem Zainab Bisola, a female goalkeeper and captain of FC Victory Queen, echoed a similar passion. Inspired by Nigeria’s national goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, she dreams of playing for a top club one day.

 

She explained, “Balancing school and football is hard. My parents weren’t supportive at first, but my love for the game kept me going. I started out as an athlete but developed a deep passion for football. I’m dedicated to becoming the best I can be.”

 

Bisola also offered words of encouragement for aspiring female footballers, saying, “Follow your passion. There will be distractions and challenges, but never give up. Football may not be easy, but it’s worth it if you stay focused and determined.”

 

After the football life skills training and leadership/mentorship session, players were divided into teams and played mini football matches to put into practice what they had learned. The FC Victory Queen team won 1-0 against the FC Phoenix team, and gifts and trophies were presented to the winners.

 

-Leadership

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

Davido breaks silence after Grammy Award loss

Published

on

Five-time Grammy nominee, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted after losing the Best African Music Performance category at the 68th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, United States.

 

The Afrobeats star shared a message of faith and resilience following the outcome of the ceremony, which took place on Sunday night at the Crypto.com Arena in California.

In a post on his Instagram page, Davido shared photos with his wife, Chioma, from the event and wrote, “Oluwa Dey my side,” alongside prayer and music emojis.
Hours later, he posted another set of pictures of himself and Chioma at the Grammys, reflecting on the loss in a longer caption.

“I said baby listen we lost again let’s not go ! she said ‘Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat’ we outside,” he wrote.
Chioma also reacted via her Instagram page, praising the singer, “You already know that you’re the perfect one, @davido,” she wrote, while sharing photos from the awards night.
Davido was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards but lost to South African singer Tyla, who won with her song Push 2 Start.

Other nominees in the category included Burna Boy (Love), Ayra Starr and Wizkid (Gimme Dat), Davido (With You featuring Omah Lay), and Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).

The win marked Tyla’s second Grammy Award, following her first victory in 2024 for her hit single Water.

Speaking during the awards ceremony, the singer revealed that With You, featuring Omah Lay, almost did not make the final tracklist of his album 5IVE.
“Man, it’s so crazy because that song almost didn’t make the album. With You was not in anybody’s top five.
“And now look at it go. Every time I was performing it, my heart would just start beating like, what if I didn’t put this song?” he told OkayAfrica.

Davido also recounted how he learned about the Grammy nomination, saying the news came unexpectedly while he was in Dubai, days before his birthday.

“I was in the car, actually, checking a car, and then my phone rang. They were like, ‘Oh yeah, another nomination.’ I was like, wow. Thank God,” he said.

“With You” was released in April 2025 as the 17th track on Davido’s fifth studio album, 5IVE, and has since become one of his most successful recent records, surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify.

Despite the song’s success, Nigeria did not record a win at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Davido said he is now focused on touring and releasing new music.

He is also billed to perform at Coachella 2026, where he will be the only Nigerian artiste on the festival lineup, performing on April 11 and April 18, 2026, in Indio, California.

-Guardian

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Kunle Afolayan gives reasons to marry many women

Published

on

Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has stirred reactions after advising men to “marry many women” while reflecting on his upbringing in a polygamous home.

 

The actor and producer made the remarks at the watch party of Aníkúlápó: The Ghoul Awakens, with a clip from the event going viral on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, Afolayan linked his existence and achievements to his late father’s decision to marry several wives.

“Without my father, there wouldn’t have been a KAP Village or even Kunle Afolayan. I am the seventh born of my father because my father had ten wives. For the men, marry many women, or rather be involved with many women. You know why? If my father didn’t, he would not have born me, and that is the honest truth. But today, a few of us are lifting his legacy. Life is short, death is constant. Nobody has life forever. Everybody has a period. Use your period,” he said.

While his daughter, Eyiyemi Afolayan, joined him on stage, the filmmaker compared his childhood experience with his relationship with his children.

“They are lucky. For her, staying by my side is luck. Do you know why? I couldn’t stand it with my father. My father didn’t know my school. My father didn’t know my date of birth. He did not know anything about me other than, ‘He is the son of that person.’ But today, I’m so proud of my father,” he added.

Afolayan also spoke about fatherhood.

“Sometimes when people say ‘Happy Father’s Day,’ I’m always saying whether he pays child support or not, he’s still a father. I have been going to court because I want to get a divorce. I don’t mind being in the witness box, and I experienced the shit, so that I can marry many wives,” he said.

He thereafter prayed for his daughter, praising her role in the series.

“Hephzibah, her mother is the one who gave her the name. I don’t care, but I am proud of you. You started with the film, you did the first season, and now with the second season, you did amazingly well. My good Lord will continue to increase you in wisdom, in knowledge, and in understanding. If this is your path, the good Lord will see you through.”
However, this is not the first time the filmmaker has spoken about his late father’s polygamous lifestyle.

In March 2021, Afolayan told BBC Pidgin that his father, Adeyemi Afolayan, who died in 1996, married 10 wives and had 25 children, a decision he said took a toll on the family.

“I would not want to marry many wives because my father had 10 wives and I knew what happened throughout that period. I knew that really distracted my father. In this age, nobody needs to tell you before you know what’s right,” he said at the time.

He also disclosed that growing up in a polygamous home affected bonding among the children due to language and other barriers.

Afolayan further narrated how he battled poverty in his early years, revealing that he once lived in a one-room apartment in Ebute-Metta and sometimes had to deal with flooding.

“I was born in Ebute-Metta and have lived in one-room apartment before that we even have to grapple with flood sometimes. It’s not shame to say have been poor before. But if you see how l made it, it’s a matter of consistency. My father was a very popular filmmaker and ordinarily, people would expect me to life the kind of live akin to Hollywood stars,” he said.

“But that wasn’t the case. How would one live such life when you’re living in a room with ten women. That doesn’t mean there was no love among us.”

He had advised young filmmakers to start with the little resources available to them while working towards their dreams.

 

-Guardian

 

 

Continue Reading

Article

Court adjourns Ganduje’s corruption trial to April 15

Published

on

A Kano State High Court has adjourned until April 15 the trial of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and son, Abdullahi Umar, alongside five other defendants, over alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to billions of naira.

 

The defendants are facing an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds. The remaining accused persons are Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecution told the court it was ready to proceed and drew attention to a motion dated November 24, 2025, seeking leave to file additional proof of evidence.

However, defence lawyers raised objections, informing the court that multiple applications were pending and must be resolved before the trial could continue.

Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, counsel to some of the defendants, said the defence had filed a motion dated July 17, 2025, seeking a stay of proceedings.
Adekunle Taiye-Falola, representing the third and seventh defendants, also referred to a separate motion dated May 23, 2025.
In addition, Muhammad Shehu, counsel to the fifth defendant, told the court that an affidavit had been filed notifying it of a pending application for stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal.
Abubakar Ahmad, counsel to the sixth defendant, informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection and an application for extension of time to respond on points of law dated February 2, urging the court to fix a date for hearing.

Only Faruk Asekome, counsel to the eighth defendant, indicated readiness to proceed with the trial.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, adjourned the matter to April 15 for the hearing of all pending applications and preliminary objections.

The trial has suffered repeated delays due to legal challenges. The high court had earlier dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defence as “incompetent” and affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case.
That ruling was appealed by the defendants, who argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction. However, in October 2025, the Kano Division of the Court of Appeal struck out the appeal, citing failure to properly transmit the record of appeal.

-Guardian

Continue Reading

Trending