African Football Holding (AFH) has announced that its highly anticipated Scouting Tournament will take place from November 15 to 20, 2025 in Ikenne, Ogun State, bringing together an unprecedented lineup of international scouts, technical directors, and club representatives from Europe, North America, and beyond.
The week-long showcase is part of AFH’s ongoing effort to create a structured and credible pathway for African footballers to transition from academy level to professional football.
Leading the international delegation is Sascha Werner Empacher, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SPOCS and African Football Holding, who has been instrumental in building bridges between African academies and major European clubs.
Among the distinguished guests expected at the event are: Giovambattista Martino (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine); Carlos Aalbers, Director of Players and Transfers, NEC Nijmegen (Netherlands); Tufan Das and Jahid Asgarov (Neftçi PFK, Azerbaijan); Vincent van Raam, Head of Recruitment, Charlotte FC (MLS); and Sergio Neveleff, Global Scout, New England Revolution (MLS).
Others include Björn Ganser (Górnik Zabrze, Poland), Johannes and Marcus Noack (MN Germany), Jamie Rietiker-Wright (Göztepe SK/Southampton, Sport Republic Group), Frank Rybak and Jordi van der Starren (both from Germany).
Also confirmed for participation are Martin Pfeifer (Austria), Bastian Sistemich and Kai Noltemeyer (SPOCS, Germany), Bennard Kumordzi (KRC Genk, Belgium), and Seyi Olofinjana (Chelsea FC, England).
According to Gbenga Abejoye, a representative of African Football Holding, the Ikenne scouting tournament is designed to serve as a true bridge between African grassroots football and the global professional stage.
“Our goal is to provide a credible platform where African players can be seen and properly assessed by legitimate scouts from top clubs around the world,” Abejoye explained. “We are building a structure that ensures potential is not wasted and that talented players have a clear pathway to international football.”
Ikenne has emerged as one of Nigeria’s foremost football development centres, boasting quality infrastructure and a strong tradition of youth training. The town’s serene environment and modern sporting facilities make it an ideal venue for a scouting event of this magnitude.
The tournament will feature select academies and regional teams showcasing top under-20 players, with all matches designed to give participants maximum exposure before international observers.
Earlier in the year, AFH entered into a strategic partnership with Jewels Football Academy, a collaboration aimed at aligning African academy operations with international scouting standards. The synergy has since strengthened AFH’s mission to elevate player development standards and streamline access to global opportunities.
AFH emphasises that the scouting tournament is not a one-off event but part of a larger developmental system. The organisation plans to monitor and mentor standout players post-tournament, ensuring they receive legitimate representation and long-term career guidance.
By combining partnerships, structure, and international expertise, African Football Holding aims to redefine how football talent is discovered, developed, and elevated from Africa to the world stage.
With a star-studded delegation and a vision rooted in professionalism, the 2025 AFH Scouting Tournament in Ikenne stands as a major milestone in Africa’s football evolution, one that could set a new continental standard for talent discovery and global integration.