Est. 2025
An elite youth football academy — The Gambia
An elite youth football academy in The Gambia — built by a former professional, with a direct pathway to clubs in Belgium and Norway.
Programmes
U14 · U16
Founder
Ex-pro · Belgian system
Network
Belgium · Norway
Rule #1
School first. Always.
Who we are
Belnor Football Academy is a youth development centre founded in The Gambia by a former professional footballer who grew up inside the Belgian football system and now operates from Norway.
We run two flagship programmes — U14 and U16 — with a clear and singular mission: identify Gambia's finest young talents, develop them to European professional standards, and deliver them to clubs in Europe through direct trial opportunities.
Every player at Belnor must be in full-time school. This is non-negotiable. We do not just build footballers — we build complete, disciplined, educated people who are prepared for life at the highest level.
Founded
2025
Region
The Gambia
Programmes
U14 · U16
Network
Belgium · Norway
Abdou Aziz Njie
Founder & Director · Based in Norway
The founder
I was a young boy from Gambia when I made the journey to Belgium. Football was my everything — my language, my identity, my dream.
I grew up inside the Belgian football system, learned what it truly takes to compete at European level, and worked my way into professional football. But injuries forced me to stop earlier than I was ready.
Instead of letting that defeat me, I turned it into purpose. I moved to Norway, started building a network across Europe, and began creating the academy I wish had existed when I was growing up. Belnor is the result of that journey. I know the road because I walked it alone — now I walk it with every player who joins.
Lived experience.
I made the journey from Gambia to professional football in Europe. I know every step — from experience, not theory.
Belgian system.
Years inside Belgian professional football. I know exactly what European clubs look for and how to present a player.
Nordic network.
Based in Norway, actively building club and scout relationships across Scandinavia and Belgium — a real, direct pipeline.
Three worlds.
Gambian heart, Belgian football expertise, Nordic network. That combination is Belnor's greatest advantage.
Our non-negotiable rule
Rule 01 / Belnor Standard
This is the Belnor standard. No exceptions. Ever.
Verified monthly · No exceptions · No symbolic gestures
Reason 01
European clubs want smart players.
Every top club in Europe checks the character, discipline, and education of a player before they sign.
Reason 02
Football careers end — life doesn't.
Injuries can happen to anyone. Education means your child always has a future, no matter what.
Reason 03
Discipline on the pitch starts in school.
Focus, hard work, showing up — the habits of a great student are the habits of a great footballer.
Reason 04
We verify every month.
We check that every player is enrolled and attending school. It is not optional, and it is not symbolic.
Our programmes
Built on the same principles taught inside the Belgian football system — technical excellence, tactical understanding, physical preparation, mental strength. Every single session is filmed.
Technical foundation
Focus
Tactical & physical development
Focus
The pathway
Six steps. Every one of them real, repeatable, and run by people who have lived the journey. No middlemen, no false hope.
Banjul
↓
Brussels · Oslo
Open Trials
Quarterly across Greater Banjul and surrounding regions.
Join Academy
Selected into U14 or U16 based on age and demonstrated ability.
Every Session Filmed
Professional camera and video equipment from day one.
Highlight Reel
Top performers receive individually edited, professional reels.
Europe Trial
Reels sent direct to clubs and scouts in Belgium and Norway.
Pro Contract
Successful trials lead to contract negotiations. The goal.
Core values
These are not posters on a wall. They are how we judge every decision — from selection to graduation.
01
Every Belnor player must be in school. No exceptions. Smart, disciplined, ready for the world.
02
We train like European professionals from day one. Punctuality, intensity, discipline — non-negotiable.
03
I was that boy with a dream. Now it is my turn to open the door for others.
04
We work with families, not around them. Full transparency at every stage.
05
No empty promises. Train, study, perform, get filmed, get a highlight reel, trial in Europe.
06
No hidden fees. No false hope. Total transparency, because of how it feels to be misled.
Coaching staff & structure
Every person on this team was selected for their commitment, their expertise, and their belief in the Belnor mission. While the director builds the European network from Norway, the academy operates professionally in Gambia every day.
Academy Director
Norway
Overall strategy, European network, brand, sponsorship.
Academy Managers ×2
On the ground
Day-to-day operations, player welfare, family communication.
U14 Head Coaches ×2
Gambia
Full U14 curriculum. Individual development tracking and video review.
U16 Head Coaches ×2
Gambia
Tactical sessions, physical preparation, match analysis. Performance reports.
Lead Scout
Greater Banjul + regions
Full-time regional talent identification, open trials, partnerships.
Success metrics
These are not just numbers — they represent real young people whose lives and careers we are responsible for shaping.
40–50
Players enrolled — Year 1
100%
School compliance
20+
European clubs contacted
3–5
European trials — Year 1
1–2
First contracts signed — Year 2
10k+
Social media followers
My promise
I will not just train you. I will guide you.
I will protect you from the mistakes I made and the pain I went through. I will open the doors in Europe that I had to find alone. I will be honest with you, your family, and your future every single step of the way.
And whether you make it to the very top or not — you will leave Belnor a better footballer, a better student, and a better person.
— Abdou Aziz Njie · Founder & Director
Contact
For players and families, scouts and clubs, partners and supporters — write to us. Every message reaches the academy directly. No middlemen, no auto-responders.
Register a player for the next open trial.
