Karim Adeyemi football academy has selected six Nigerian players as German coach Thomas Geist leads an Ibadan scouting mission…
German coach Thomas Geist has completed a talent scouting mission in Ibadan as part of a development programme linked to the Karim Adeyemi Football Academy, Soccernet.ng exclusively reports.
The 61-year-old travelled from Straelen in Germany to the three-million-strong city in January to assess young Nigerian players and help build a pathway to European football.
The project is backed by the Adeyemi Foundation, founded by Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi and his father, Abiodun Adeyemi, and combines football development with social support programmes in education.
Geist’s visit focused on identifying players who could benefit from structured training and possible exposure to clubs in Germany.
Karim Adeyemi FA: 6 players earn scholarships
As observed by Soccernet.ng, a total of 140 players aged 17 to 21 took part in an eight-day screening programme organised by the Adeyemi Football Academy, with participants drawn from different academies across Ibadan and nearby regions.
After several days of match assessments, 15 players were shortlisted, with six eventually awarded scholarships.
“Football is often the only chance to get off the street in Nigeria,” Geist explained to Soccernet.ng. “That’s why the boys are very willing to learn and curious. They leave their hearts on the pitch because they know what this opportunity can mean for their future.”
The scholarships will allow the selected players to continue structured training at the Adeyemi Academy, with plans already in place for them to travel to Germany later in the year.
3. Liga & Regionalliga targeted for partnership opportunities
Geist has now been tasked with securing partnerships with clubs in Germany, ideally in the 3. Liga or Regionalliga, where the Nigerian talents can take part in trial sessions and possibly earn contracts.
“Up to about the age of 14, many boys in Nigeria don’t play in organised clubs but on the street,” Geist said. “There are no junior performance centres like in Germany. Only football academies provide targeted development.”
Geist said the experience in Ibadan left a strong impression on him:
“Most people are content with very little and still try to make things better,” he noted. “In football, that means the players give everything. I also tried to pass on our values.”
Geist is expected to return to Nigeria in April to continue the collaboration, while negotiations with German partner clubs continue.
