Digital Scouting Africa U-17 Talent Showcase: Inspire Sports Academy steals the show

The Digital Scouting Africa (DSA) U-17 Talent Showcase, which kicked off on January 27 at the Inspire Sports Academy Arena in Oshodi, Lagos, has already lived up to its billing as a groundbreaking platform for young African footballers. On Day 3, Inspire Sports Academy, one of the event’s key partners, put on a masterclass performance with a stunning 7-1 victory over 6th Avenue Young Boys.

This talent showcase, an initiative of Tosmicom Sports and supported by Inspire Sports Academy , is reshaping youth scouting by integrating digital platforms that provide young players with exposure to top international scouts. The Digital Scouting Africa Portal is central to this initiative, compiling player statistics, match data, and digital scouting profiles to enhance visibility for African talents globally.

Speaking on the academy’s involvement in the project, Francis Ogette, Head of Academy at Inspire Sports Academy, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative:

“When Tosmicom Sports approached us with this project, we were immediately excited because of its uniqueness. We’ve seen many youth tournaments, but nothing quite like this—where digital scouting is integrated into the process from the start, ensuring that players are not just competing but also gaining global exposure. At Inspire Sports Academy, our goal has always been to nurture and provide platforms for young talents, and partnering on the Digital Scouting Africa Talent Showcase perfectly aligns with that vision. We believe this will open doors for many young players and redefine how football scouting is done in Africa.”

Also weighing in on the significance of the initiative, Melvin Balogun Chalobah—uncle to England international Trevor Chalobah, and a senior executive at