On 27 September 2026, Kings Football Academy Abuja posted that it had been crowned champions of the AMAC Unity Cup, ten days after announcing a semi-final against Youthful Ballers FC. Small trophies like that are often how parents first hear of a football academy in Abuja. The harder part is working out which ones are real, active and honest about what they charge.
We checked each name below against its website, social posts or recent press. Unpublished fees are flagged. Nothing is guessed.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Academies listed | 6, all with public activity in 2025 or 2026 |
| Published fees found | Eagles Wing, Derby FA and AS Roma Academy Abuja (tryout fee only) |
| Highest published sign-up cost | N450,000 registration at Eagles Wing, about $338 |
| Youngest entry age | 2 (Eagles Wing); AS Roma Abuja takes 5 to 17 |
| Trials | Kings FA runs Saturday open trials in Bwari; AS Roma screens nationwide |
| Recent pro exits | Derby FA to Red Star Belgrade and HJK; CAMPpro to the NPFL |
| Exchange rate used | N1,331.50 to $1, official CBN window, 7 October 2026 |
The academies, district by district
Derby Football Academy, Riverplate Park
Founded in Jos in 2011, Derby moved to Abuja in 2021 and trains at the Turf Arena big field in Riverplate Park, according to a Daily Trust feature published in December 2025. No FCT academy was clearer. An eight-week half term costs N170,000 (roughly $128) for two sessions a week. Extra sessions cost more. Exits are real, too. In October 2025 the academy announced that winger Joseph Eghenolohor had signed for Red Star Belgrade. Serbian daily Novosti traced him to Derby via Swedish side IFK Kalmar, whose sporting director Peter Schwård said “Joseph is a footballer we noticed in Nigeria” when explaining the move. In July 2026 Derby added that its U18 captain, Adetola Quirib, was joining HJK Helsinki.
Eagles Wing, Gwarinpa
Eagles Wing trains at Evelyn's Fitness and Recreational Centre by 3rd Avenue junction in Gwarinpa, with branches in Warri and Asaba. Daily Trust reported registration at N450,000 and monthly dues of N60,000 (about $338 and $45), with players aged two to 27. The academy's own site advertised new-season registration in September 2025 and an Easter camp in March 2026, and says it has more than 500 active players.
No professional graduates are named.
AS Roma Academy Abuja, National Stadium
Roma opened its first African academy in Abuja in February 2021, run with Garden City Panthers FC. It is based at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium and takes boys and girls aged 5 to 17. Its tryouts page lists N20,000 without accommodation and N150,000 with it (about $15 and $113), and offers a full-year scholarship to standout players. The team played Sajeh Football Academy in the N-Youth League Cup in April 2026, losing 2-1. Training fees? Ask directly.
FOSLA Academy, Karshi
Founded in 2010 by former NFF president Sani Lulu Abdullahi, FOSLA mixes schooling with football on the Karshi side of the FCT. Daily Trust put scholarship holders at more than 70 per cent of students and named Onuche Ogbelu and Benjamin Mohammed as alumni playing abroad. Fees are not published. Call the school.
CAMPpro FC
Founded in 2019 and formally registered in 2024, CAMPpro is an Abuja development club in the Nationwide League One. The Guardian reported in August 2025 that Nasarawa United had signed Jofrank Istifanus, 20, after four goals and four assists in 13 NLO games. Fees and trials: unpublished.
Kings Football Academy Abuja
Kings advertises open trials on Saturdays at 9am at Bwari Township Stadium and has an online screening form. It names no professional alumni and lists no fees; the contact route is WhatsApp or email on its site.
Before you pay anyone
Paperwork first.
Ask whether the academy is affiliated with the FCT FA. Ask whether players are registered on FIFA Connect. Keep receipts for every naira. NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau, quoted by Daily Trust, warned that “any academy that doesn't meet up to the standard will not be recognised” by the federation. That makes status worth checking.
Then think about agents. On 29 September 2026, FIFA warned parents about fake agents who make “unfounded and unrealistic promises” of trials and contracts, and urged families to check that any agent holds a valid FIFA licence and never to send money for trial arrangements. It happens. Sahara Reporters reported in September 2026 that one family paid N4.7 million to a self-styled FIFA agent for a training programme and club deal in Egypt, only to find “there was no football trial waiting for them in Egypt”.
Sports lawyer Abiodun Sonaike, in a June 2026 News Agency of Nigeria report, said fakers “clone the social media accounts of genuine agents” to look credible. Check twice.
Our view
Abuja's scene is a mix of weekend coaching centres, a school-academy model, a European franchise and two outfits, Derby and CAMPpro, with recent, checkable exits into professional football.
Apply one test.
If an academy cannot name a player who moved on, show where it trains or put its fees in writing, walk away. For comparison, see our guide to the best football academies in Nigeria, plus the regional rundowns for Lagos and Kano State.
This article was most recently revised and updated 11 seconds ago
