The coordinator of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) in Nigeria, Nasiru Jibril, has hailed the positive impact of the program since its introduction in 2023, stating that it has been a game-changer for talent discovery and development in the country.
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Following a nationwide workshop in December 2023, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) swiftly launched a scouting program across ten states to identify future stars of the game. The initiative, aimed at ensuring all talented players get a fair chance to develop, has already started yielding results.
Jibril emphasized the importance of the scheme, particularly with FIFA’s recent decision to make the U17 World Cup an annual event. He highlighted the need for young players, aged 13 and 14, to train together for years before reaching the U17 level.
“Without any doubt, the TDS is the best thing to have happened to player development in Nigeria in a long time,” Jibril told thenff.com. “Watching our U15 boys play against Morocco in Rabat convinced me that this program is viable and achievable. With the U17 AFCON now an annual event, without a TDS, preparing our youth teams would be a mammoth task.”
Nasiru Jibril, a former Nigeria U17 international, believes the structured approach of the TDS will not only restore Nigeria’s past youth football glory but also help combat age-cheating. He stressed the need for more international exposure for the U15 team through overseas training camps and competitive matches.
Following the initial scouting phase, three national camps were held, with 48 players selected from the talent pool. All selected players have been added to the NFF’s official database, allowing coaches to track and monitor their progress.
Looking ahead, Jibril revealed that the U15 team that recently traveled to Morocco will be promoted to the U16 category, ensuring that both age groups have simultaneous training camps when the FIFA TDS program resumes in 2025.
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