“The Future of Football Is Catching Them Young”…Omamomo Backs Flying Eagles, Hails NFF’s Youth Development Drive

Renowned Nigerian football scout and talent developer, Paul Ojo Omamomo, has applauded the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the technical department and coaches of the national youth teams for their commitment to identifying and nurturing young talents from football clubs and academies across the country.
Omamomo gave the commendation as Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, arrived in Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the 2026 WAFU B U-20 Championship, where they will begin the defence of the regional title they won in 2024.
The seven-time African champions touched down in Abidjan on Monday before proceeding to Yamoussoukro, where they are camped at the Trio Corridor Hotel ahead of the tournament.
Coach Abdu Maikaba side will begin its campaign against perennial rivals, Ghana’s Black Satellites, at the Lycée Scientifique Stadium in a clash expected to headline the opening round of matches. The encounter revives one of West Africa’s biggest football rivalries after Nigeria defeated Ghana 2-1 in the final of the 2024 edition in Lomé.
The Flying Eagles will then face Togo’s Sparrow Hawks before taking on Burkina Faso’s Young Stallions in their final Group B fixture as they seek to retain the WAFU B crown.
Reacting to the squad, Omamomo, widely regarded as one of the world’s most penetrative football scouts, praised the NFF and the coaching crew for giving deserving youngsters from grassroots clubs and football academies the opportunity to wear the national colours.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the Flying Eagles to successfully defend their title and urged the players to justify the confidence reposed in them by displaying discipline, determination and patriotism throughout the championship.
The respected scout also called on football club owners, academy operators and administrators across Nigeria to prioritise youth football by investing more in grassroots talent identification and development.
According to him, modern football belongs to young players who are properly groomed, noting that the recently concluded FIFA World Cup was a clear example of the global shift towards youth development.
He cited Spain’s World Cup-winning squad, where 18-year-old Pau Cubarsí and 19-year-old Lamine Yamal played pivotal roles in the country’s triumph, describing their success as proof that early investment in young talents yields long-term rewards.
“The future of football is catching them young. The world’s best teams are building around talented teenagers, and Nigeria must continue to create opportunities for players from clubs and academies to develop into international stars.”
He added that sustained investment in grassroots football would not only strengthen Nigeria’s national teams but also produce the next generation of world-class footballers capable of competing at the highest level.