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Former Super Eagles midfielder and Chelsea Chief Scout in Africa, Seyi Olofinjana, speaking at the “Beyond The Pitch” Seminar, in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Former Super Eagles’ midfielder and Chief Scout of Chelsea FC in Africa, Seyi Olofinjana, has reiterated the importance of embracing technology in African football to unlock greater opportunities for players across the continent.
Speaking at the “Beyond The Pitch” seminar organised by AMAPRO African Development Project, at the Ilorin Innovation Hub, on Saturday, September 20, 2025, Olofinjana explained that data and technology have become central to modern football if Africa must match global standards.
Specifically, Olofinjana identified scouting, recruitment and performance analysis are all critical areas technology now controls.
He maintained that these tools are inevitable if African clubs are looking at facilitating successful player transfers to Europe.
“The use of AI, data, and technology education will contribute immensely to the knowledge and practical applications within universities and football clubs.
“Understanding the available systems and integrating them into what we do will enhance best practices, especially in video scouting,” he stated.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder pointed to models by Premier League clubs such as Chelsea, Brighton, Liverpool and Brentford where video scouting and data analytics are now integral to player recruitment and performance monitoring.
He warned that Nigerian and African clubs must follow suit to remain competitive in the industry.
CEO of KoraStats, Egypt, Mohammed Elbadry, highlighted the growing importance of sports analytics in tracking performance and preventing injuries.
Senior Lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Dr. Oba Abdulkadir, who spoke on how communication technology is reshaping athlete branding and fan engagement.
CEO of Phreestyle Sports and Project Consultant, Shogo Shodunnke, equally called for a revolution in Nigerian football through strategic innovation and technology adoption.
Discussions during the programme centred on bridging the gap between technology and football, with focus areas including building clear career pathways for young Nigerians in sports data, communication, and management; promoting collaboration between clubs, federations, and technology innovators.
The panelists also gave insights about leveraging football technology to market Nigerian athletes more effectively on the global stage.
The event concluded with a strong call to action, echoing Olofinjana’s message that African football must not only nurture playing talent but also master the technology that now drives success in the global game.
