NFF inaugurates FIFA Talent Development Scheme for Girls in Abuja

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday, 10 December, officially launched the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) for Girls at the Noble Hall Leadership Academy in Abuja, marking a significant milestone in grassroots football development in the country.

The initiative, rolled out two years after FIFA introduced a similar programme for boys, is aimed at helping member associations unlock their full potential through structured talent identification and development.

Speaking at the inauguration, NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), highlighted the importance of the programme in strengthening Nigeria’s longstanding dominance in women’s football.

“This scheme is dedicated to uncovering talents among both boys and girls. Nigeria has consistently led women’s football in Africa for the past twenty-five years, a fact validated by recent CAF Award recognitions,” Gusau said.

He congratulated the first set of participating girls and assured them that top experts would be engaged to guide their development.

“I assure you that we will enlist experts to train and develop your skills, with the hope that some of you may represent Nigeria at the national level and perhaps emulate icons like Asisat Oshoala and Rasheedat Ajibade,” he added.

Gusau reiterated that the TDS, initiated by FIFA, is designed to grow the game globally from the grassroots up.

Representing the NFF General Secretary, Ms. Ruth David, Director of Competitions, noted that the TDS forms part of FIFA’s long-term partnership with member associations to strengthen global competitiveness.

“It reflects a long-term commitment to nurturing talent worldwide,” David said.

Hajiya Amina Daura, NFF Head of Women’s Football, thanked the school for hosting the launch and explained the holistic nature of the programme.

“The scheme, initiated by FIFA’s Arsène Wenger, aims not only to discover and develop players but also to build health-conscious individuals who can grow into coaches, referees, physiotherapists, doctors, and psychologists,” she said.

Daura added that football remains an avenue for discipline, health, and diverse career opportunities, especially for young girls at the grassroots level.

In her remarks, Hajiya Maryam Muttalab Duba, Proprietress of Noble Hall Leadership Academy, expressed gratitude to the NFF for choosing the institution as the venue.

She reaffirmed the school’s commitment to nurturing future leaders and expressed optimism that some of the students could one day represent Nigeria on the international stage.

The event was attended by top NFF officials, including:

Mr. Dayo Enebi Achor – Head of International Competitions

Dr. Ayo Abdulrahman – Head of National and Inter-Clubs Competitions

Coach Abdulrafiu Yusuf – Chief Technical Officer

Other senior officials and staff of the Nigeria Football Federation

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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