On 25 May 2026, Nigerian media reported that HJK Helsinki had signed 19-year-old striker David Temidayo Olorunfemi from Triple 44 Football Academy in Ibadan. This was the latest move by the Oyo State youth club, which has become the most visible football academy in Ibadan, and it comes as the city’s NPFL side, Shooting Stars Sports Club, is still figuring out how to run its academy.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| The best documented academy | Triple 44 Football Academy, Ibadan |
| Founder and sports director | Samuel Olatunji Okuku |
| Affiliation | Nigeria Football Federation through the Oyo State Football Association since 2017 |
| Last sale abroad | David Temidayo Olorunfemi at HJK Helsinki, May 2026 |
| A club with an academy side | Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Lekan Salami Stadium |
| Published fees | Nothing found for any Ibadan academy |
| An exploratory event in 2026 | X-TOUCH Next-Gen Football Star Quest, Barracks Stadium, January 7-9 |
Triple 44 Soccer Academy
Okuku started the project in 2014 with four players. In 2017, he registered with the Nigeria Football Federation through the Oyo State Football Association. The academy describes itself as a place that prepares young Nigerians for European careers while still in school.
His record is what parents ask. Ibrahim Adewale is a template. Born in September 2006, the forward was scouted in Abuja and spent about seven years there. He joined IF Karlstad on loan in March 2025. It was later bought outright by Mjällby AIF of the Swedish Allsvenskan. Mjällby’s sporting director Hasse Larsson confirmed on 29 October 2025 that talks with the academy had taken place, saying there was some distance between the clubs and the contract was agreed on 2 November. Adewale joined in January 2026 on a contract until 2030.
Others followed. Ozor Okeke went to IF Elfsborg, Peter Olawale went to Hapoel Ra’anana in 2020 and later to Debreceni VSC in Hungary and Prince Amos signed for Vasalund IF. When Olorunfemi left, Okuku called it another proud moment for the academy and The Sun did not disclose the fee or the length of the contract.
This silence is typical. Payments remain confidential.
No transfer fee has been published for any of these moves. We haven’t found any public fee schedules, boarding fees, or registration fees for Triple 44. Ask. In writing.
The matter of Shooting Stars and its academy
Shooting Stars popularly known as 3SC and nicknamed Oluyole Warriors play at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. They finished third in the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier League with 60 points behind Enugu Rangers and Rivers United. Our guide to NPFL clubs and stadiums covers ground and league.
The club runs the academy side. We know this from an awkward episode: in August 2026, the NPFL disqualified 3SC from the Super 6 pre-season tournament because its roster featured academy players next to the first team, which violated the competition’s eligibility rules. Katsina United replaced them. That’s all the report says. Africa Top Sports reported on August 19 that there was no statement from the club.
We could not find a published description of the center itself. Age groups, pitches, admission and price unknown. The club office is the only reliable way and until it publishes these details, any figure quoted by an intermediary should be considered unverified.
Other names and those we cannot confirm
The activity is not the same as a registered academy.
A scouting event does not create an academy, but it does show who is active. Adeyemi FC held the groundwork for the X-TOUCH Next-Gen Football Star Quest from January 7 to 9, 2026 at the Barracks Stadium, Ibadan. It was intended for players between the ages of 16 and 19. Its founder, agent OlaOlu Adedayo, said: “It’s about discovering the next football star.” The report states that there is no entrance fee.
Midtown International Football Academy and Madestone Football Academy come up in online searches around Ibadan mainly through their social media pages. We have not found any sources dated 2025 or 2026 that link to the city or indicate that they are active, so we are not listing them as confirmed. The same applies to small academies advertised on WhatsApp.
How to protect parents from being deceived
Fraud is not abstract here.
In May 2026, an Iyaganku Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ibadan tried a four-count charge against a 30-year-old travel agent, Patrick Omojuwon, who was accused of receiving N24.8 million to secure a place for a boy at a football academy in Sweden and then failing to process it. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of N10 million. The process was postponed until October 20 and we have not reached a decision.
First rule. Never pay to a personal or unrelated company account, always insist on a written receipt showing the name of the academy and verify the academy’s registration with the Oyo State Football Association. Ask which European clubs have actually signed their players, then look for the club’s own announcement like Mjällby and HJK did for Adewale and Olorunfemi.
Stay away from anyone who guarantees to test overseas for a fixed amount. No honest explorer can.
What it means for Nigerian football
Ibadan is no longer a note.
Ibadan produced Olorunfemi and Adewale out of the Lagos and Abuja pipeline. The buyers were not in England, but in Sweden and Finland. If you’re comparing cities, our guides to soccer academy in Abuja, soccer academy in Port Harcourt and soccer academy in Lagos provide the same level of detail.
This article was last revised and updated 20 seconds ago