President of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Reverend Samuel Ikpea, has officially launched a grassroots football initiative—Africano Football Club—as part of his long-term commitment to football development in Nigeria and across Africa.
Speaking at Cappa Oshodi Lagos with sports247, where his newly founded club is set to participate in a grassroots tournament, 1XCup2025, Reverend Ikpea described the initiative as “a massive dream” that aligns with the Nigeria Football Federation’s current focus on grassroots development.
Read Also: OFFICIAL: Light Eke Joins Latvian Giants Riga FC From Collins Edwin SC
“I want to first of all commend the organisers,” he said. “They are really doing well and also following the vision of the current NFF President, which is about going back to the grassroots. There are many undiscovered talents here. If we build from home like this 1XBet Cup is doing, we will raise players who can fit into any capacity at international level.”
Reverend Ikpea, known widely for his energetic presence in stadiums with drums and trumpets as a lead supporter of the national teams, has now taken a bold step from cheering from the stands to owning and financing a club. He explained that his passion for the sport, which started in his youth, was redirected from playing to supporting due to family expectations focused on academics.
“I didn’t get to pursue a career as a footballer because of schooling. But since I couldn’t play, I decided to support—and I’ve been doing that for over 30 years now, for all our national teams. Now, I’ve taken it further by establishing my own team, Afrikano Football Club.”
Africano FC is not just a Nigerian project; it is part of a wider continental vision. The club is already affiliated with Afrikano Brazil, creating a direct pathway for talent exchange between Africa and South America.
According to Ikpea, players from Brazil will come to Nigeria, while Nigerian talents will also have the opportunity to train and play in Brazil.
“The dream is to replicate Africano in every African country, with Nigeria as the first step. We plan to expand to places like Cotonou and Ghana next.
When international tournaments come up, there’ll be no need for panic scouting—there will already be a structured pool of trained African players.”
Ikpea emphasized that the long-term goal of Africano is not just talent development but also cultural and football integration across continents.
As Africano FC prepares for its debut, Reverend Ikpea expressed optimism and extended gratitude to all supporters of grassroots football.
“It’s not just about supporting from the stands anymore. It’s time to also contribute to building the game from the foundation.”
The journey has just begun for Africano Football Club—but with Reverend Ikpea at the helm, the future looks promising for the next generation of African footballers.
