Nigeria’s Football: Lip Service, Lost Passion, and the Way Forward – Kdo
“I stayed in the same hotel with the boys in Uyo, and honestly, I thought they were in town for a league match. There was no single sign anywhere in Uyo that a game of this magnitude was being played. No posters, no radio jingles, no social-media buzz, no excitement in the air. Little wonder the stadium was empty.
This absence of publicity is one of the greatest silent killers of our domestic football. A sport that once united communities, filled stadiums, and built national heroes has been reduced to near invisibility. Our administrators continue to pay lip service to development — building excuses instead of systems. It is equally shameful that a whole Rivers State, one of the richest in Nigeria, cannot boast of an Olympic or World Cup-standard stadium. What exactly is going on?”
My heart sank when I read this jaw – dropping and apt account of a major event. Therefore, from my pained field of hope , let me whisper these words.
1. Intentional Publicity and Media Engagement
Publicity of our league must be intentional, consistent, and creative. The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) should partner with mainstream and digital media outlets to ensure every matchday has visibility — from radio updates to trending hashtags.
• Each club should have dedicated social-media teams producing match-day graphics, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories.
• The League Body and NFF should invest in media training for players and coaches to make them relatable personalities who can attract fans online.
• Just as the English Premier League does with “Match of the Week” build-ups, the NPFL can adopt weekly highlight programs syndicated on YouTube, TV, and community radio.
2. Celebrity and Influencer Partnership
Let’s bring in our entertainment giants — Davido, Burna Boy, Kizz Daniel, Funke Akindele, and others — to adopt clubs, attend games, and share content. When music and film celebrities endorse football, they lend glamour and influence that appeals to younger audiences.
We can’t keep football trapped in dusty stadia and expect Generation Z to be interested. Star power sells — let’s use it deliberately.
“Mr commissioner , pls tell your oga to renovate Akure stadium and other stadiums in ondo state.
You’re here playing jingles. Are you going to stage this competition in Ogun state or else where?
Honestly we should be ashamed of ourselfs…” another true reflection from a mind desirous of measured growth in our football at all levels !
3. Grassroots and School-Based Revival.
Sports development cannot be sustained from the top down. We need to rebuild from the roots — through secondary schools, inter-collegiate games, and state sports festivals.
• Every state should have an annual youth football championship, with scouts, scholarships, and televised coverage.
• Corporate Nigeria must be encouraged — or incentivized — to sponsor these programs as part of their CSR commitments.
This is how future stars are discovered and how communities reconnect with the game.
4. Infrastructure and Stadium Experience
It is disturbing that in 2025, Nigeria still lacks several world-class stadiums that meet FIFA standards. Beyond just building new ones, we must maintain and modernize existing facilities — lighting, seating, turf quality, and security.
Fans need an experience worth paying for: safe parking, refreshments, clean restrooms, and proper crowd control. Football must become a family experience again — not an ordeal where “agberos” and special distractive squad compete with match officials
5. League Structure, Governance, and Integrity
Fans have lost faith because of inconsistent fixtures, poor refereeing, and opaque management. To restore credibility:
• The NPFL must implement real-time digital scoreboards and VAR-light technology where possible. And clear up all legal encumbrances holistically.
• Introduce club licensing enforcement sincerely, ensuring that only financially and administratively sound clubs participate. Lock out opportunists ,inept administrators, political jobbers and sweetheart sports appointments.
• Guarantee players’ welfare, prompt payment, and contract enforcement. When players are treated with dignity, performance improves and fans respond.
6. Community Ownership and Club Branding
We must return to the era when clubs were symbols of their cities and people — Shooting Stars meant Ibadan, Rangers meant Enugu, Bendel Insurance meant Benin. And is Owens Waves still waving ????
• Encourage community ownership and fan-membership systems where individuals contribute small annual fees to be part of their club’s growth.
• Rebrand club merchandise and kits to be available online and in local markets — people wear what they’re proud of.
7. Digital Transformation
Stream our matches. Period.
The NPFL should partner with digital platforms like YouTube, Meta, and Startimes to ensure every fixture is available live or on replay. Young fans live online — take the game to where they are. Let’s also integrate apps for fixtures, statistics, and fan engagement, with fantasy leagues to create new excitement.
Conclusion: Reclaiming Our Game
“There was a time we followed African club competitions with passion — from WAFU to the Cup Winners’ Cup — even sneaking glances at Sunday Sketch or Complete Sports in boarding school. Today, despite having better technology and media access, we have less connection to our football” the fearless football magician further echoed
It’s time to change that.
Nigeria’s football needs more than results — it needs visibility, pride, and ownership.
Let’s stop the lip service and become intentional about rebuilding our league, reviving our sports culture, and giving the next generation a game they can believe in again.
