The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has called on Nigerian football stakeholders to place greater trust in young players, saying the emergence of Spain’s 19-year-old defender, Pau Cubarsí, as the FIFA Best Young Player of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a powerful lesson on the importance of investing in youth and believing in their abilities.
Hon. Adeboye, who witnessed the FIFA World Cup final in person, said one of the biggest takeaways from the tournament was the confidence shown by Spain’s coaching crew in giving young players the opportunity to perform on football’s biggest stage.
According to the Presidential aide, the success of Cubarsí and fellow teenage sensation Lamine Yamal demonstrates that talent, discipline, and quality—not age—should determine selection at the highest level.
“Watching the FIFA World Cup final live was a remarkable experience, but beyond the spectacle, there was an important lesson for every football nation, including Nigeria. Spain entrusted some of its youngest players with huge responsibilities on the biggest stage in world football, and they delivered exceptionally. That confidence is what develops champions.”
Hon. Adeboye noted that Pau Cubarsí’s performances throughout the tournament, which earned him the FIFA Best Young Player Award, reaffirm the value of structured youth development and the courage of coaches to give talented youngsters the opportunity to succeed.
He stressed that Nigeria possesses an abundance of young footballers capable of competing at the highest level if they are provided with the right environment, quality coaching, and opportunities to grow.
“Nigeria is blessed with extraordinary young talents across every part of the country. What they need is opportunity, proper development, and the confidence of coaches and administrators. When we believe in our young players and expose them early to top-level competition, we are investing in the future of Nigerian football.”
The SSA emphasized that the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, remains committed to creating pathways for young athletes through grassroots sports development, school sports, improved infrastructure, and strategic partnerships.
He said his office is already working on initiatives that will strengthen talent identification and athlete development ensuring that gifted young Nigerians are discovered and nurtured from an early age.
According to Hon. Adeboye, Nigeria must continue to build a football system where talented young players can seamlessly progress from grassroots competitions to the national teams.
“The future of Nigerian football lies in our grassroots. If we create the right structures and have the courage to trust our young players, the next global football stars will emerge from our schools, communities, and local academies. That is the vision we are pursuing under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The SSA urged football administrators, clubs, coaches, and academies to prioritize youth development and provide young players with meaningful opportunities to compete, learn, and excel.
He expressed confidence that with sustained investment in grassroots sports and greater faith in young talents, Nigeria can once again produce a new generation of footballers capable of competing successfully on the world’s biggest stages.
