Grammy award-winning artist Burna Boy has opened a football academy in Nigeria, hoping to nurture the talent of the country’s next generation of superstars.

The Burna Boy Football Academy is open to young boys from ages 4-16, with training centres in three major cities – Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. A statement on the academy’s website explains its aim to nurture young players and ensure that talent doesn’t go unnoticed. 

With world-class coaching and state-of-the-art facilities, that goal is sure to be realised over time. In addition to the academy, the Burna Boy Football Show is available for players aged 18-21 to take part in.

It is a reality TV show, putting budding talent on the map and giving them the opportunity to get scouted by major clubs overseas. Players will audition to take part in a month-long camp, with the best of the best getting trials at partner clubs including Manchester City, Brighton, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City.

Young footballers in Africa are often overlooked in the scouting process, but Burna Boy just changed the game. Using his global influence and love of football, he has provided a life-changing experience for up and coming talent to grow in their skillset and realise dreams of going pro. 

This is just one academy in one country on the world’s largest continent, but its greater impact is undeniable. Here’s hoping more African giants fund the future of football, too.

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