Klassisch Football Academy is a Nigerian football academy based in Ajegunle, Lagos. The academy was established in April 2021 by former footballer Ogbuehi Charles Osinachi. Several players developed at the academy have subsequently moved to clubs in European countries including Spain, Finland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey and Ukraine.
History Klassisch Football Academy was established in April 2021 by Ogbuehi Charles Osinachi. The academy was founded to identify and develop young footballers and provide pathways for players seeking professional opportunities.
The academy operates in Ajegunle, a neighbourhood in Lagos, Nigeria, with a long association with grassroots football and talent development. Ajegunle has produced several notable Nigerian footballers, including Samson Siasia, Henry Nwosu, Brown Ideye and Odion Ighalo. The area has also been associated with entertainers including Daddy Showkey and Baba Fryo.
In July 2023, Peter Mandela Itodo joined Albanian club Luzi 2008, becoming the first player associated with Klassisch Football Academy to make a move to a European club. Contemporary Albanian coverage reported Itodo among three foreign players signed by Luzi for the 2023–24 season.
Itodo subsequently established himself in Albanian football, scoring 18 league goals in 33 appearances for Luzi during the 2023–24 season. He later moved to Dinamo City before transferring to Ukrainian club FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv.
Several other players associated with Klassisch Football Academy have subsequently moved to professional clubs in Europe. The academy has had players progress to leagues in Spain, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Hungary, Albania, Bulgaria, Portugal, Turkey and Ukraine. These moves include Mmenie-Abasi Etok to Vaasan Palloseura in Finland, Ekemini Ime to AGF in Denmark, Yahaya Yakubu to Real Oviedo in Spain, Itodo Mandela to FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv in Ukraine, Ridwan Popoola to Kisvárda FC in Hungary, Emmanuel George to FC Marek Dupnitsa in Bulgaria and Prince Ating to Hatayspor in Turkey.
Competitions and matches Klassisch Football Academy has participated in football competitions in Lagos, including the Lagos State Football Association Cup and the Jagaban Cup. In March 2026, Klassisch Football Academy participated in the Jagaban Cup. The academy finished top of Group A with seven points from three matches after recording two wins and a draw. Klassisch defeated FC Bethel Sporting 1–0 in the group stage and advanced to the final. The final was played against Broad City FC on 29 March 2026 at National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. Broad City won the match 1–0 after Solomon Agbalaka scored in the 42nd minute, leaving Klassisch as runners-up. Klassisch also reached the round of 16 of the 2026 Lagos FA Cup. On 3 April 2026, the academy defeated FC Middlewell 3–1 in the round of 36, with Dike Emmanuel scoring twice and David Ude also scoring.
The academy recorded a notable win over the Nigeria Premier Football League champion at the Remo Stars Stadium by 4 goals to 3.
Notable graduates Yahaya Yakubu – Real Oviedo / Real Oviedo Vetusta/UD Llanera, Spain Mmenie-Abasi Etok – Vaasan Palloseura, Finland Peter Itodo Mandela – FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv, Ukraine Ridwan Popoola – Kisvárda FC, Hungary Emmanuel George – FC Marek Dupnitsa, Bulgaria Chigbata Patrick – Cádiz CF, Spain Ifeanyi Osondu – Kisvárda FC, Hungary Prince Ating – Hatayspor, Turkey
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