The Sole Administrator of the Badagry Division Football Association (BDFA), Coach Osahon Emokpae, was a central figure at an exhibition football match held on Friday at Coker Field, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, reinforcing Badagry’s growing footprint in grassroots football development beyond its immediate borders.



Coach Emokpae, who also serves as founder and technical director of Young Stars FC, Satellite Town, was entrusted with managing a team of foreign-based former players in a fixture against their home-based counterparts.

Organisers said the appointment reflected his longstanding contribution to youth football, including his role in developing several of the players during their early careers.

Many of the participants were products of the National Grassroots Dream Team, a Lagos-wide youth initiative that trained regularly at White Sand Field, Orile-Iganmu. Several players involved in the match trace their football foundations to programmes either directly or indirectly influenced by coaches from the Badagry axis.

Speaking on the sidelines, Coach Emokpae urged former players to remain connected to their roots and to act as positive role models for young footballers, particularly those coming through grassroots structures in communities such as Badagry.

The Obafemi Awolowo University graduate and alumnus of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) has played a significant role in player development over the years. His coaching career includes working with Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu, as well as Raphael Onyedika and Frank Onyeka during their formative years at FC Ebedei, Sagamu.

Also present at the event was the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF), Pastor Oscar Ezinwa Emmanuel, who encouraged current and former players to acknowledge the mentors and community coaches who supported their journey from grassroots football to professional careers.

The match was organised by USA-based former footballer Ebere Goodluck, who said the fixture served both as a reunion and as a memorial for his late coach, Idowu Matti, alongside other coaches who nurtured football talent across the Badagry–Orile-Iganmu corridor.

Players travelled from several countries, including the United States, France, Italy, Scotland, Sweden, the Netherlands, South Africa and England, to participate in the match, which featured teams known as “Ebere & Friends” and Idowu Boys All Stars.

At full time, the home-based side secured a 3–1 victory. Their coach, Sunday Odetayo, described the result as a fitting tribute to Idowu Matti, whom he credited with laying the foundation for many of the players’ football careers.