Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State may have applauded the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for a “rising global brand,” but football insiders say the reality on the ground tells a much bleaker story.
Makinde, speaking at the 81st Annual General Assembly of the NFF in Ibadan on Saturday, praised the league for what he called a new era of fairness—where away teams now stand a better chance of winning matches. He attributed this to improved officiating and prompt payment of referees’ indemnities, a stark departure from the notorious “must-win-at-home syndrome” that plagued the competition for decades.
But while the governor lauded the change, critics argue that such progress is cosmetic and masks the deeper problems threatening Nigerian football.
Empty Stadiums, Unpaid Players
Attendance figures at most NPFL grounds remain embarrassingly low, with many games played before half-empty stands. Players across several clubs continue to decry late salaries, despite public claims of financial reforms. For a league supposedly “gaining global attention,” there is still no central broadcast deal of international repute, and sponsorships remain patchy at best.
Fragile Governance and Poor Infrastructure
Years of poor management and lack of investment in infrastructure have left stadiums unsafe and unattractive for fans. While refereeing may have improved, violence at match venues still lingers, raising doubts about Makinde’s claim that safety concerns are now a thing of the past.
Corporate Support Missing
Even the governor himself admitted the NPFL is far from financially stable, urging its managers to court corporate sponsors to “stand on their feet.” This is not new advice. For years, experts have argued that without strong corporate partnerships and transparent governance, the NPFL will remain a struggling domestic league, unable to compete with its South African or North African counterparts.
A League at the Crossroads
The faint signs of credibility Makinde praised—like away wins—are simply not enough to rebrand a competition still marred by poor administration, dwindling fan engagement, and lack of financial muscle. Until these structural issues are addressed, Nigerian football risks being stuck in a cycle of short-term fixes, while genuine transformation remains elusive.
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