Real Madrid are partnering with the local government in southern Nigeria to build a football academy, the governor of the country’s oil-rich Rivers state said on Tuesday.

“We have young men who want to be coaches, who will be trained in Spain,” said Nyesome Wike.

“We have our young boys and girls who want to go and play football in Spain.

“This partnership is with the best club in the world and it’s in the interest of all.”

The Rivers state government sponsors local club Rivers United.

Ahmad Ahmad, president of the Confederation of African Football, is due to perform the foundation-laying ceremony for the academy on May 28.