“Scouts Impressed by Every Team” — Akande Hails High Standards at Mega Scouting Tourney Opener

“Scouts Impressed by Every Team” — Akande Hails High Standards at Mega Scouting Tourney Opener 

The opening day of the Mega Scouting Tourney delivered a competitive showcase of young football talent at the Nitel Sports Ground, Oshodi, Lagos, with scouts commending the overall quality, intensity, and discipline displayed by participating teams.

Following the conclusion of Day One fixtures, CEO of Giabayo Sports Management & Marketing, Mr, Gabriel Akande, expressed satisfaction with the standard of play, noting that every team had made a strong impression on scouting observers.


"The scouts have been impressed by the performance of every team. The level is high, the energy is high and I'm sure by tomorrow the tempo is going to be higher," Akande said.


Although the opening round produced relatively few goals across matches, Akande emphasized that the defensive organisation on display reflected tactical maturity rather than a lack of attacking quality.

"The low goals don't show a lack of brilliance from the players. Instead, it shows the quality of the defence. Every team played with defensive strategies and we are very impressed," he added.

Akande also highlighted the tournament’s approach to officiating decisions, noting that the handling of offside situations is designed to ensure scouts fully assess attacking phases and individual moments of quality.

Beyond tactical observations, the Giabayo Sports boss stressed the importance of off-the-ball movement and player mentality in modern football evaluation.

"The quality is there, the tenacity is there, but the players need to be more hungry. They have to press, go for the ball and always ask for the ball. What you do off the ball is just as important as what you do with it."

He also praised the vibrant atmosphere at the venue, describing the turnout as a major boost to the competition.

"The stadium is packed. The players are here, the fans are here, spectators are here and the energy is very high."

Looking ahead, Akande expressed optimism that continued performances at the same intensity could open doors for several players.

"If we keep this same energy, some players are already one foot into professional football in Europe. If this continues, a lot of contracts will be signed."

Day One Results

Inspire FC 0–1 Tonic FC

SGFC Athletics 0–0 Box2Box FC

36 Lion FC 1–1 Magic Stars

Eletu FC 2–1 Luba FC

The tournament continues on Wednesday and will conclude on Thursday, June 18, with scouts expected to further assess emerging talents.

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