Sapa

the shege. the myth. the legend.

[Ajoje⚽⚖️ @israel_ajoje]

So you want to become a professional footballer.

A real Agent or Agency will never ask you for money. I repeat- A real Agent or Agency will never ask you for money. Let me tell you how those Amateur to Pro deals actually happen, and how to boost your odds.

By the way- this is for Under 21 players. This may not be able to help you if you are above 21. There are ways you can do it but this Article may not be it for you. I don’t want you to be disappointed at the end.

If you are still here, you should know this is a long read but I promise you it is exciting and you will love it. Just keep reading.

A while back, I wrote about the difference between a pro footballer and an amateur one. The main point is in  how much you earn. Pros earn enough from football to cater for their needs. That’s all. But I didn’t talk about how to get there.

Football at top level is not for fun. It is discipline, consistency, and turning every training session into a step toward mastery and improvement. Amateurs play for fun. Pros play for their livelihood.

Over the years, I have spoken with dozens of players, their parents, and even “managers” who can promise you the moon but. I have counselled them on the raw, unfiltered steps to breaking into the professional ranks. It doesn’t matter what point you are at. The stories all circle back to one thing. Preparation meets opportunity.

Are you still with me?

I like to compare turning pro to getting into university. It is not a walk-in. There are multiple steps to take. Just like universities/tertiary institutions have minimum entry requirements, football clubs demand proof you are ready for the big leagues.That you are no longer a secondary-level footballer. 

In Nigeria for example, to get into a top university, you  have to have gone to a primary secondary school, pass the UTME and then POST-UTME. In the US, it is SAT or ACT scores, plus a solid GPA and maybe extracurriculars. In the UK, you have to pass the A Levels exams. Right?.

But to pass any of these exams, you have to have had a certain level of Education- Secondary School education. It is the same with football. You need evidence you are already playing at a high level and have the potential to outperform where you currently play. No scout is handing out contracts based on vibes alone.

It is almost impossible for you to get a pro contract from your local Saturday playing field in your area. It doesn’t happen that way. You have to show a player CV, yes- a player CV, tapes, stats, or reps from competitive games proving you are levels above. If you don’t have any of the above, you will just explain tire, no evidence.

Are you there?

In my experience, There are Two major ways for you to Get Noticed

To convince scouts you are the real deal, there are two solid paths. First, you have to earn a spot in your country's age-grade national team, like the U-17 or U-20 squads. This passes the message that you are one of the top talents in your age group nationwide.

It is an international benchmark, fair and square. Though there are places where selections lean more on connections than merit. We all know how it goes. Yunno. This is a crazy topic for those who know. But that’s not what this is about.

The second route- which I think is your best bet is to find a reputable academy that has a track record of churning out pros. In Nigeria, we call these "travelling teams" because they are geared toward getting you abroad.

Do not waste your prime years at just any Academy that doesn’t have a solid program. They will have you playing FA Cup or Principals Cup matches at best. Go for ones with proven pipelines. We all know the big names like Beyond Limits, FC Ebedei, and Simoiben, but there are hidden gems out there doing deals quietly. 

I know one in Ilorin that moved 3 players to Croatia just yesterday. The name is Dolly P.  Yes, the Entry is tough. But you can back yourself and trial if you are confident. But if not, scout smarter.

Listen to this.

One pro tip I give to players is this: Dig into national team rosters from U-17 to seniors over the last seven years. Note the academies those players came from. They are goldmines for boosting your odds.

Do not sleep on them. If you are in Nigeria, check out teams in the TCC League or NNL (Nigeria National League). Many of the teams there serious travelling teams that are hungry for talent. Give it a shot. Back yourself. Even if you don’t get an immediate move, you could catch the eye of National team scouts.

Top clubs love scouting during international tournaments. It is like their buffet of the best from each nation's crop. Pick your choice, yunno. If you perform there, opportunities could open for you.

These days, many clubs will not even glance at an agent's pitch without a national team profile. They figure if you are not representing your country, you are not elite enough. We know it’s not true but it is what it is.

Wise ones- this is a word to you If you cannot crack into these standard Nigerian academies, your shot at going pro in Europe is very slim.

Let me break it down.

Scouts don’t just pick players for technique. They are hunting for that X-factor their European squads/Academies lack. Like raw speed, flair, or ginger. But clubs face non-EU player quotas. Some can only slot in 7 to 8 from outside the continent.

And they are picking from a global pool across five continents for those spots, so you have to be super exceptional. If you cannot fill one of 30 spots in a local academy, confess. I am not God but I can tell you for sure that your odds are lower against that elite competition.

You have to level up your game

One more non-negotiable. Get your highlight reel sorted. Upload quality, standard 3-5 minute videos to YouTube. Don’t send 15 second clips of you dribbling someone or scoring a goal. Don’t also send 238MB clips of you on whatsapp.

No one is watching them. Upload them on Youtube. Start with a clean intro. Your biodata (age, position, height, foot), then your best attributes showcased in clips. If you blow this, you might have just fumbled your first impression.

Wheeeww…this was a long read but I hope it was worth it for you. Let me know in the comment section if it was.

My name is Ajoje and I am a FIFA Licensed Agent and International Sports Lawyer. I talk about the Law and Business of Football a lot. Repost and Follow me if you want to read more posts like this.

[Ajoje⚽⚖️ @israel_ajoje]

FA Cup week just delivered pure giant-killing chaos. It's funny how the EFL Cup rarely touches that level of madness... keep reading if you want to know exactly why the two cups feel worlds apart.

Are you ready? Let's go

First off, the FA Cup is super open. Over 700 clubs from every level of English football can enter. That means Premier League teams right down to non-league sides in the lower tiers (even the 9th or 10th division sometimes). It's why you often get those epic underdog stories where a tiny club knocks out a giant.

As for the Carabao Cup, it is a much smaller pool. Only the 92 professional teams in the Premier League, Championship, League One, and League Two. No non-league teams at all. So it's strictly the pro leagues. So you can see one difference. The FA Cup is for all teams in England-as many as 700 while theEFL Cup is for only the pro clubs- 92 of them.

Now, that is settled.

Another difference is that the FA Cup is ancient. It kicked off back in 1871-72, making it the oldest national football competition anywhere. It's full of legends and stories.

The Carabao Cup started much later, in 1960-61, mainly to give league clubs more games and boost crowds and revenue when things were dipping. It's had tons of sponsor names over the years and that has of course given it different names- Milk Cup, Coca-Cola Cup, Carling, now Carabao since 201), which shows it's always been more commercial.

With regards to format, both are knockout, but the FA Cup has loads of early qualifying rounds for the smaller clubs, with Premier League teams jumping in at the third round (January). In fact, between the first match that the lowest tiered team in the FA Cup and the 3rd round where Premier League clubs come in, there can be as many as 8 matches.

On the flipside, the Carabao Cup starts in August with the lower leagues. Premier League sides enter later (third round for some earlier) and the semi finals are two-legged. Just like the FA Cup, they play the final at Wembley though, But the EFL Cup is quicker overall.

With regards to sponsors and branding. The FA Cup has Emirates on it since 2015 (Emirates FA Cup), but people still just call it the FA Cup. The history it has trumps the sponsor vibe. However, the Carabao Cup is always tied to its sponsor name. It feels more like a branded product.

Now here is a major difference- the money.

For 2025-26, FA Cup winners get £2,120,000,  the runners-up get £1,060,000. Clubs build up serious cash along the way. There is cash inflow per round. Third-round winners get £121,500 (losers £26,500), fifth-round winners get £238,500, quarter-final winners get £477,000, and so on. It's life-changing for smaller clubs. 

As a matter of fact, a non league club that makes its way to the Quarter finals without winning it gets as high as £614,250 from the FA Cup pool. If they then win the quarter-final match, they get an additional £477,000, taking the running total to £1,091,250 (and advancing to the semi-finals). This £614,250 is purely the FA's direct prize fund—non-league clubs on such a run often earn far more overall from:

· Gate receipts (home ties or big away shares)
· TV/broadcast appearance fees (often £50k–£100k+ per selected match)
· Sponsorship, merchandise, and other commercial boosts from the publicity

As for the Carabao Cup? Winners get £100,000, runners-up £50,000. Round-by-round it's tiny: first round £5,000, third £10,000, quarters £25,000, semis £25,000. Even winning the whole thing nets maybe £187,000 max if you start from round one.

The real upside though is European qualification. Winners of the EFL Cup get a Conference League play-off round with about £797,000 minimum participation fee. But that's lower tier than the Europa League spot the FA Cup winner gets.

Generally, between both, FA Cup is the romantic one with history, inclusivity, drama, bigger rewards, and true prestige. Carabao Cup is practical: easier path to a trophy, good for rotation and youth, but seen as second fiddle with way less glamour and money.
Both can be fun, but if you're dreaming of the big one, it's usually the FA Cup that captures the imagination.

I hope you are well informed now. Glad to be of service.

My name is Ajoje and I am a Football Management Consultant and FIFA Licensed Agent. I talk about the Law and Business of Football, a lot. Follow and Repost if you want to read more posts like this.

[Oyejinmi, your lawyer's lawyer🌟 @jinmioye]

As much as people bash (online) business owners for posting their goods without the price, the law actually has something to say about it as well.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act makes provisions for the protection of the interests of consumers.

[sorrengail @meena_warda]

Absolutely. If you have kids ages 4-8, use eLimu World to improve their numeracy, literacy, science and logic skills. It is a gamified learning platform and it costs 5k for 3months of subscription.

https://t.co/FGJIBxf5tM

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

@DigaHernandez Amen

[Bop Daddy @falzthebahdguy]

Here’s what I’m suggesting- every citizen contacts their reps & senators with coordinated emails, phone calls and WhatsApp messages with the following -

*Dear Hon/Sen, as your constituent, i am urging you to call for a PUBLIC hearing to address the strategy to defeat terrorism, rumours of an ill-equipped military and how Nigerians will be kept safe. Please act urgently*

[Bop Daddy @falzthebahdguy]

You have consistently shown your unwillingness to protect the lives and property of our people despite pretending to care in the past. RESIGN NOW!

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

“Sugar in Yam, walk with me”

Until you have excessive sugar in your system and are recommended for amputation.

Who go walk with you?

[Mótayọ̀r✨ @wegatherdey]

Sugar in yam
Yay or nay?

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

Sapaaaaa

[Instablog9ja @instablog9ja]

Let’s hear your views! 🤔

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

Camphor
Air freshener

[Naija @Naija_PR]

What comes to mind??

[THE DANIEL MAKINDE @_MKDOFFICIAL]

Dear writers and non-writers,

Not every " — " is from ChatGPT.

Thank you.

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

And you, who do not have any money or knowledge will buy their ‘curse’ on how to navigate the path to financial freedom…

[JOE @Real_Giilo]

Is this true? 🤣🤣🤣

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

I live for a living, and that’s enough

[𝔸b𝕒𝕫𝕫 @abazwhyllzz]

Don't be ashamed of your hustle. what do you do for a living?
Someone might need your service this week.

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

World Hunger 😭

[YabaLeftOnline @yabaleftonline]

What problem can it NOT solve?

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

You see cold Coke with bread after work at a construction site? Nothing compares

[YabaLeftOnline @yabaleftonline]

What are you pairing this with?

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

Alternatively, the best way to live the life you dream about…is by sleeping always!

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

You that took loans to get 17, prepare to take another loan for the upgrade.

Since you nor wise, you see shege in different colours.

[YabaLeftOnline @yabaleftonline]

iPhone 18 Pro will reportedly be available in 3 new colors next year: burgundy, coffee, and purple.

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

Cold pure water

[ADAORA @Simonloveth9]

Call me the last thing you bought❤️

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

If hunger hold you, and your vision blur, this your tiles go be like hypnosis 😂

[Emerie Onoh @EmerieOnoh]

I recently got a new place.

I’m grateful to God for keeping things running smoothly.

[Sapa @SapaIsComing]

Even Jesus won’t be tempted to break it.

[💕Mide💕 @HaYoMiDe_]

I made bread guys 🥹🥹