Sports
The Next Messi or Ronaldo Will Come from Africa -Founder of Next Level Scouting
By Joel Ajayi
One of the world’s top scouting agents and the founder of Next Level Scouting, Jouko Gorissen, has expressed confidence that the next football superstar comparable to Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo will emerge from Africa, particularly Nigeria, given the immense talent present in the country.
The event, organized in partnership with USYAK Academy, has attracted over 10 scouts from across the globe, all keen on identifying future football stars.
Speaking at the ongoing Next Level Scouting 2025 event inside the turf Arena pitch Central Business Area on Friday, in Abuja, Nigeria, Jouko Gorissen emphasized the importance of discovering and nurturing young players with exceptional potential.
The Next Level Scouting programme has brought together over 300 young players from 16 academies across Nigeria, with successful players set to secure opportunities in top footballing nations such as Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands.
“We have 10 scouts on the ground and another 198 scouts worldwide watching the games online. There are 16 teams competing for professional contracts, and opportunities are not limited to Europe alone.
“Clubs from Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, America, Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, and even Australia are watching right now.”
He praised Nigerian players for their distinct style of play, saying: Nigerian players are known for high-paced, high-intensity, strong, and technical football.
“We’ve already spotted a few players in the first game who seem ready to take the next step.”
Gorissen expressed optimism about Africa’s football future: “Studies suggest that the next Messi or Ronaldo will come from Africa. This is what we hope to see here.
“Our job is to find the right clubs where these players can develop and progress to the next level.”
In his remarks, Usman Alfa, Chairman of USYAK Academy and Team Manager of Niger Tornadoes FC, emphasized the dual purpose of scouting-talent discovery and financial investment.
“Our goal is to discover talents and generate revenue because football is both a passion and a business.
“We have 16 academies participating, giving young players a platform to showcase their skills.
“Each team will play two matches, and the best talents will be selected to advance in their football careers.”
The Next Level Scouting 2025 event is set to be a game-changer for Nigerian football, offering young players a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be scouted by top clubs worldwide. With extensive global interest and investment in African football, the dream of producing the next football icon from the continent is closer than ever.
However, the Chairman of Nigeria National League (NNL), George Aluo, who was the special guest of honour kick off the event inside Turf Arena central Area of Nigeria.
Sports
Montage Community Football Tourney Registration Ends October 30
Cyril Ogar
Registration for the 2026 edition of the Montage Community Football Tournament will close on Friday, October 30, organisers have announced.
The tournament coordinator, Mr Raphael Ekpang, disclosed this on Thursday, urging interested teams across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take advantage of the remaining days to register.
Ekpang said registration had been ongoing since Monday, encouraging eligible teams to complete the process before the deadline.
The tournament, themed “Montage FM 99.7: Empowering Youth, Uniting Communities Through Football,” is scheduled to kick off on November 3, 2026, with playoffs across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
The grand finale will hold on December 5, 2026, at the Old Parade Ground, Garki Area 10, Abuja, where the top four teams will compete for first-, second- and third-place honours.
A total of 48 teams will participate in the competition, with eight teams representing each of the six Area Councils.
The participating teams will compete for cash prizes worth over ₦2 million and other valuable rewards.
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