ACC Celebrates Coach Badiru Azeez Wale as Protégé Elijah Ariyo Scores Tournament’s First Hat-Trick at Play for Africa Trial – Alimosho, Lagos → Cairo, Egypt — Africa Coaches Connect (ACC) is once again validating its core mandate: Developing Coaches, Developing Africa_. Congratulations to Coach Badiru Azeez Wale, a dedicated coach of ACC’s Iyana-Ipaja & Alimosho Chapters, Lagos State, and his budding protégé, Elijah Ariyo of B. United Football Academy, Alimosho, Lagos State, Nigeria.
The young striker, currently representing AB Sports Egypt at the Play for Africa Scouting Summer Trial 2026/2027 season, has made history — becoming the first player in the tournament to register a hat-trick against Sansan FC. His performance: explosive movement, clinical finishing, and ice-cold composure under pressure. What the world witnessed transcended 3 goals. It was the crystallisation of dedication, discipline, and a champion’s psychology — values meticulously cultivated from Alimosho’s grassroots pitches to elite North African scouting arenas.
Reacting to the milestone, Coach Eldred Sunju-Abbey, ACC Founder & President, stated: “This is exactly why ACC exists. When a coach from Alimosho can develop a player who dominates scouting trials in Egypt, it proves that African excellence is not lacking — access is. Coach Azeez represents the new breed of African coach: educated, networked, and relentlessly committed to his players. Badiru’s passionate coaching and Elijah’s hat-trick is not just a personal milestone; it is a continental statement. ACC will continue to demolish borders so that talent from Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Dakar, across Africa, and worldwide can be seen, developed, and magnified to the world. Developing football professionals is how we develop Africa football alongside Africans”.
This breakthrough was engineered through deliberate pan-African collaboration. ACC extends profound gratitude to our Egypt Chapter leadership for bridging continents and creating access, we salute Madam Carolina Launor Zongo Nzambo – ACC Executive Director, Northern Africa Director of Operations & Egypt General Coordinator, Coach Festus Chukwudi Okongwu – ACC Membership Superintendent, Coach Alex Ijoma Ibekwe – ACC Head of Coaches Affairs in Egypt and all membership of our awesome ACC Egyptian Chapter.
From Nigeria, West Africa to Egypt, North Africa Coach Azeez’s trajectory embodies ACC’s mission: empowering African coaches this instance particularly and football professionals, stakeholders, enthusiasts and fans generally with network, knowledge, and global access so their talent and their players’ talent can transcend borders. Elijah Ariyo is a striker to monitor. His intelligent off-the-ball runs, predatory finishing, relentless work ethic, and insatiable hunger for growth signal the DNA of a player primed for elite football. To Badiru and Elijah, stay diligent, stay focused, stay humble, and trust the process. This hat-trick is not the destination — it is a landmark. Continue to honour African football , your family, and ACC. The world does not reward potential. It rewards preparation. Your journey continues.
ACC – United To Get Better and Greater!
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By Eldred Sunju-Abbey, Founder & President.
Africa Coaches Connect (ACC) – Architect, Engineer and Solutionist of Africa’s Football Renaissance. Championing the Excellence, Autonomy and Actualization of African Football. Developing Africans through football, and developing football through Africans.
