Samson: Rising gem exemplifying The Future Academy project

One of Nigeria’s fast-growing football academies, The Future Academy, recently embarked on a football training tour of Portugal with four young players, where they played against teams from Atlético Madrid, S.L. Benfica and Sporting CP.

By the time they returned to Lagos, what truly announced them to the wider public was one voice — innocent yet reflective — that captured the imagination of many.

That voice belonged to Samson Azeez, the academy’s eight-year-old prodigy who became a fan favourite during the Portugal trip.

The youngster’s heartfelt reflections after returning from Portugal offered more than a glimpse into the tour itself. They revealed the transformative work happening quietly within The Future Academy, where football development is closely tied to education, emotional growth and exposure to opportunities beyond the streets where many of the children were discovered.

Samson has spent about two years at the academy and has gradually evolved into one of its brightest prospects.

Comfortable in midfield and equally effective on the wings, the youngster is admired internally for his versatility and technical confidence. He also idolises eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.

“I love Messi because of his movement,” Samson told PidomNigeria Sports Extra.

“I like TFA more than the streets because I have learned a lot under my coaches here. The trip to Portugal even exposed me to many things about passing and marking.”

For The Future Academy, Samson’s story is not accidental. It is exactly the kind of story the academy wants the world to see.

Like Samson, there are players such as U-10 captain Roheem Ajisefini, 11-year-old Nojimu Abdulramon and 12-year-old Babatunde Malik. All four were part of the Portugal trip and belong to a group called TFA Prospects — a set of boys scouted from the streets and admitted into the academy with educational and nutritional support.

Roheem has now spent about three years at the academy. He operates primarily as a midfielder and left winger, combining technical quality with growing tactical awareness. Like Samson, he also idolises Messi, a fitting detail considering the academy’s emphasis on intelligence and creativity in possession.

“A lot of things have changed for me since I got here, especially our recent trip to Portugal where we played against some academies in Europe,” the 10-year-old Roheem also told PidomNigeria Sports Extra.

“Going there with my teammates was special and we showed great understanding on the pitch, so much that they liked us as well.”

According to TFA director Abiola Fabio, that exposure is central to the academy’s long-term vision.

“TFA has been established for nine years and dealing with the developmental stage of football has been interesting and challenging,” Fabio said.

“The most intriguing part is seeing how different kids develop at different stages. For example, Samson struck me from the first day he came to our training ground. Looking at him physically, you would never know he had something special in him, but once he touches the ball, you immediately see the quality.”

In many ways, Samson’s viral reflections after the Portugal trip achieved more than mere publicity. They humanised TFA’s mission and reminded people that behind every promising youngster is a story of discovery, discipline and transformation.

“It’s about the pathway and the experience they gain on their journey to becoming professional footballers. This prepares them for what lies ahead in the future. It is a pathway to the next level in football, showing them that their standard can be compared with any other in the world.”

Academy coach David Michael also said the transformation after the Portugal experience has already become obvious.

“We don’t take our eyes off the players because we want to get the best out of them. Our training is structured in a way that helps manage both their skills and emotions, ensuring that where they are coming from does not negatively affect where they are going.”

For now, Samson and his teammates remain youngsters with dreams still taking shape. Yet their stories already represent something bigger than individual promise — a symbol of what intentional grassroots development can achieve.