Ikorodu City FC has boosted its NPFL squad by promoting five academy stars to the senior team.
Club officials say the move reflects a long-term strategy to blend youth with experience and build a stronger team identity.
Ikorodu City FC has strengthened its squad for the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season by promoting five players from its youth academy to the senior team. The players Maliq Musa, Samuel Ezekiel, Dagogo Ibifubara, Gift Udoh, and Chiemerie Ezeaka have signed their first professional contracts with the club, affectionately known as the Oga Boys. The young talents are now training with the first team as preparations intensify for the upcoming season.
All five players played crucial roles for the Ikorodu City Academy during the Nationwide League One (NLO) promotion playoffs in Oyo, helping secure a historic promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL) earlier this year. Their development highlights the club’s growing commitment to nurturing talent from within.
Ikorodu City, an emerging force in Nigerian football, has heavily invested in its youth development program since its establishment. The academy has become a vital pathway for aspiring players to reach the professional level. This latest promotion underscores the clear opportunities available for young footballers to advance to the NPFL.
Club officials describe the promotion as part of a long-term strategy to blend youth with experience, enhancing the team’s competitiveness at the highest level. By integrating academy graduates into the senior squad, Ikorodu City aims to strengthen its identity as a club that provides opportunities for young Nigerian players to showcase their talents on a larger stage.
