Kebbi FA Organises Successful Talent Scouting Programme

Kebbi FA Organises Successful Talent Scouting Programme

--As FA Boss, A.C. Ladan, Hails Bagudu's Commitment to Youth Football Development

By Ohis Asein

The Kebbi State Football Association (KSFA), under the leadership of Alhaji A.C. Ladan and with the support of the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, CON, successfully organised a football talent scouting programme on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

The exercise attracted two professional coaches from Austria, who assessed the performances of young footballers from across Kebbi State in search of outstanding talent.

At the end of the scouting exercise, 12 players were shortlisted for the next stage of the programme, comprising 10 outfield players and two goalkeepers. The selected players will undergo further evaluation as they continue their journey towards potential opportunities in European football.

Speaking after the exercise, Kebbi State FA Chairman, Alhaji A.C. Ladan, described the programme as another milestone in the association's drive to discover, nurture and expose talented young footballers to the global stage. He also commended Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his unwavering commitment to youth empowerment and football development in Kebbi State.

According to Ladan, Senator Bagudu has consistently demonstrated his passion for sports development, particularly football, through numerous initiatives implemented during his tenure as Governor of Kebbi State from 2015 to 2023.

Among the landmark achievements highlighted by the FA Chairman are the sponsorship of 15 young footballers to the Kwara Football Academy for their secondary education and football development. Interestingly, one of the goalkeepers selected during the recent scouting programme is a product of that initiative, underlining the long-term impact of the investment.

He also noted that Bagudu established Kebbi United Football Club, which currently competes in the Nigeria National League (NNL), thereby creating a pathway for talented players within the state to play professional football.

The former governor also founded the Kebbi Football Academy in partnership with an academy from Portugal to develop players between the ages of 13 and 19. Although the academy became inactive after the end of his administration, it remains one of the state's most ambitious football development projects.

Ladan further praised Senator Bagudu for providing financial support to football clubs representing Kebbi State in various national leagues every season, as well as allocating four hectares of land and other necessary support for the construction of a FIFA/NFF Mini Stadium in the state capital.

He added that, beyond football, Senator Bagudu supported numerous sporting programmes aimed at empowering young people and promoting sports development across Kebbi State.

The Kebbi State Football Association expressed optimism that the latest scouting programme will open new doors for talented players from the state while strengthening Kebbi's reputation as an emerging hub for football talent in Nigeria.This version reads like a comprehensive newspaper feature and gives proper context to Senator Bagudu's long-term investment in football development.