16-year-old Ifeoluwa Olowoporoku is set to become a player for Swedish giants IFK Goteborg when he turns 18 in July 2026, according to several reports coming out of the country, Soccernet.ng reports
Olowoporoku became Nigeria’s youngest national team player when he made the final list of players for the 2023 CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria. Despite earning a few minutes against South Africa, the teams that had been monitoring his progress knew the quality he possessed.
The youngster is an offensive midfielder who likes to play as a 10. Many who saw the screening process of the U17s in Abuja testified to his unique abilities as he stood out from the crowd of boys.
He caught the attention of former Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro who praised his ability to find space in packed midfield conditions.
The abilities of the 1.70m tall player have been compared to that of Nigeria legend Austin Okocha. His vision and ability to disguise his passes make him a final third difference maker.
He is very good in small spaces and has elite ball-striking ability with an intelligence that is way above his age. Coupled with his athleticism and a bit of flair, Olowoporoku is a very highly rated complete midfielder.
Ibadan rising talent
Many footballers have emerged from Ibadan, one of Nigeria’s biggest cities. Super Eagles legend Mutiu Adepoju is one of the biggest names. Could Olowoporoku also become a legend?
He comes from a modest family in the Gbekuba area of the metropolis. He and his younger brother are members of the Triple 44 Academy, where Swedish clubs first scouted him.
A source close to the family told Soccernet.ng that another Swedish club visited his family early in 2023. However, IFK Goteborg also saw him sometime in 2022 when their chief scout visited Nigeria.
IFK Goteborg are securing a player that will definitely be an important player for Nigeria in the future.
The club has successfully signed young African talents and transferred them to bigger clubs. One of their recent success stories is the transfer of Malian Malick Yalcouyé for seven million euros to Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion, less than six months after he arrived from ASEC Mimosas.
Olowoporoku has been spotted wearing an IFK shirt in Ibadan, a sign of where his future lies.
Olatunji Samuel Okuku, the president of Tripple 44, declined to comment on the young player’s future.
