Kwara governor, spouse current as AAFC levels first anniversary celebration

One of Nigeria Nationwide League (NLO) sides, AA Football Club (AAFC) of Abuja, on Thursday November 5, 2026, staged their first anniversary in a celebration that attracted prime dignitaries from the sporting sector and all walks of life.

The epoch occasion which inside Monoliza Event Hall Garki, Abuja, witnessed recognition of excellent younger gamers and different people together with spouse of Kwara state governor, Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, who’s the grand patron of the membership. Prof. Olufolake chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum.

Kwara state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq additionally graced the event.

Speaking, Chairman of the membership, Mr. Farouk Abdulrazaq, was delighted on the success of the anniversary celebration and the exceptional turnout of distinguished friends.

“We are extraordinarily delighted with how far now we have are available only one yr. When we began this journey, our imaginative and prescient was to construct greater than only a soccer membership. We wished to create an setting the place younger skills might be found, nurtured, and allowed to realize their desires via soccer.

“Seeing distinguished personalities, football stakeholders, friends and supporters come together to celebrate this milestone is truly encouraging. It reinforces our belief that we are on the right path.”

He additionally mentioned the membership introduced within the three worldwide scouts to evaluate its gamers and discover alternatives for younger footballers to construct skilled careers.

“Successful strikes overseas would additionally improve the membership’s popularity and appeal to extra gamers, whereas its recruitment drive has prolonged past Nigeria to neighbouring West African nations, together with Ghana and Togo. The factor with Nigeria and the factor with Africa is that the expertise isn’t the difficulty. I want I had sufficient house for all the great gamers that I’ve seen. Unfortunately, we don’t have sufficient house.

“For now, A.A FC’s priority is developing its under-18 players and exposing them to competitive football rather than pursuing promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Our main focus is to promote the young players we have,” he mentioned.

Also talking, a FIFA agent Ryan Smith mentioned greater than 11 gamers at AAFC have the power to play in Europe.

Smith mentioned he had visited the academy alongside two different worldwide scouts, and described the usual of gamers as spectacular, figuring out a number of with the potential to pursue skilled careers overseas.

“The level of the players that we’ve seen since we’ve been here has been very good, believe me, very good,” he mentioned.

“I would say there are more than 11 players, of all the players, that I think have the ability to play in Europe.”

Nigeria continues to supply proficient footballers, however creating pathways for them to entry alternatives overseas stays a problem.

“Our job is to make it easier for the talent to access Europe and not have any barriers,” Smith mentioned.

FCT Football Association (FCTFA) secretary Usman Haruna praised AAFC ‘s organisation and funding in younger gamers, saying the membership had made its mark inside a yr of coming into the soccer scene.

Haruna nonetheless, known as for larger private-sector funding in Nigerian soccer, warning that golf equipment and academies couldn’t rely totally on authorities funding.

“We cannot rely on government to do everything. Over-reliance on government is what is killing us. The private-sector initiative is very important,” he mentioned.

Former Super Eagles participant Oluwaseyi Olofinjana additionally lauded AAFC ‘s strategy to growing younger footballers, highlighting the standard of individuals concerned within the venture.

Olofinjana believes soccer improvement ought to prolong past producing professionals to equipping younger individuals with self-discipline, resilience and different life abilities.

With academies arising throughout Nigeria and Africa, he careworn the significance of figuring out real expertise and guaranteeing younger gamers obtain correct improvement.

“First and foremost is the talent ID. How many of our custodians know what talent looks like? Because if we’re not careful, we’ll be selling a false dream,” he mentioned.

AAFC head coach Bunmi Haruna highlighted the membership’s progress in its first yr, with some gamers incomes nationwide staff alternatives and attracting curiosity from scouts.

The staff has remained unbeaten in its league marketing campaign and is among the many main sides within the Federal Capital Territory.

Its recruitment has additionally expanded past Nigeria, with gamers from Benin Republic and Togo, whereas membership scouts have visited Ghana, Niger and Cote d’Ivoire.

One of the membership’s standout gamers, striker Odjewola Abdul Azeez, was named Best Player of the Season after scoring 39 objectives.

The award was a supply of pleasure for the ahead, who described the achievement as a private reward and recognition of the staff’s collective effort.

“I’m very excited. I’m very happy for myself personally and for the team, for the staff. I am so, so happy,” he mentioned.

Explaining his goalscoring file, Abdul Azeez mentioned discovering the web was central to his duty as a striker.

“As a striker, goals are our main job for the match, so you have to score, score, score and more, more, more,” he mentioned.

The teenager hopes to achieve the skilled stage within the coming years, with Arsenal and Barcelona among the many European golf equipment he want to play for.

“In a few years’ time, I want to see myself at a high level, at a professional level, in the grace of God,” he mentioned.