African Football Holding (AFH) is set to host its highly anticipated Scouting Tournament from November 15–20, 2025, in Ikenne, Ogun State. The week-long event will feature an impressive lineup of international scouts, technical directors, and club representatives from Europe, North America, and beyond, all coming together to identify emerging African football talent.

Sascha Werner Empacher, CEO and Founder of both SPOCS and AFH, will lead the international delegation. Empacher has been a driving force in connecting African academies with top European clubs.

Among the distinguished participants are:

• Giovambattista Martino (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine)
• Carlos Aalbers, Director of Players and Transfers, NEC Nijmegen (Netherlands)
• Tufan Das & Jahid Asgarov (Neftçi PFK, Azerbaijan)
• Vincent van Raam, Head of Recruitment, Charlotte FC (MLS)
• Sergio Neveleff, Global Scout, New England Revolution (MLS)

Other confirmed scouts 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 (Germany), as well as Martin Pfeifer (Austria), Bastian Sistemich and Kai Noltemeyer (SPOCS, Germany), Bennard Kumordzi (KRC Genk, Belgium), and Seyi Olofinjana (Chelsea FC, England).

Gbenga Abejoye, AFH representative, emphasized that the tournament aims to bridge African grassroots football with 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 worldwide,” Abejoye said. “We are building a structure that ensures potential is maximized and talented players have a clear path to international football.”

Ikenne, known for its quality sporting infrastructure and youth football tradition, provides an ideal setting for the tournament. The event will feature select academies and regional teams showcasing top under-20 players, ensuring maximum exposure before the international scouts.

Earlier this year, AFH partnered with Jewels Football Academy to align African academy operations with international scouting standards. The collaboration strengthens AFH’s mission to improve player development and streamline access to global opportunities.

AFH stresses that the scouting tournament is not a one-off event. Standout players will continue to receive mentorship, career guidance, and legitimate representation beyond the tournament. By combining partnerships, structure, and global expertise, African Football Holding seeks to redefine how African football talent is discovered, developed, and elevated to the world stage.

With its star-studded delegation and professional vision, the 2025 AFH Scouting Tournament in Ikenne represents a significant milestone in African football, setting a potential new standard for talent discovery and international integration.