Can the government go back from Nigerian football clubs without chaos?

By Ibrahim T. Abiola esq.

A total of 229 players sold between June and September 2025 generated only 7.5 million dollars for Nigeria, a figure that requires a thorough examination of the country’s soccer framework.

A central issue is whether the government should give up the control of Nigerian clubs. Analysts and experts argue more and more for this change, claiming that state property makes growth and innovation difficult. They indicate inefficiencies, which suggests that private management could revitalize the League.

However, the government provides significant support, including financing that maintains 16 of the 20 NPFL clubs. This financial support covers players’ salaries, travel and infrastructure costs, offering stability that private entities often cannot match. Without this, many clubs can collapse, a risk that guarantees careful consideration before any delivery.

MFM FC increased to the NPFL in 2015, but stopped operating for 2019 due to financial difficulties. The FC IFEANYI UBAH, launched in 2015, fought with the debts and dissolved by 2023. Gabros International, active as of 2013, faded for 2017 after not keeping the costs. These cases reveal that private property faces barriers, which include limited capital and inconsistent income, which suggest that eliminating government support without a solid alternative could lead to greater losses.
Before inviting private investors, the NPFL must become more attractive.

Clubs rarely reveal financial records, but evidence of sponsorships and expenses shows that they spend more than they win. The Kun Khalifat CEO highlighted a cost of one billion Naira for the 2025/26 season, a sum that deter the investment without a viable income plan. In addition, limited television coverage hinders growth.

While the Premier Soccer League of South Africa obtained 2.2 billion Rands (90.29 million pounds) for a five -year television agreement that ends 2023/24 with Supersport, the NPFL lacks broad access, reducing its attraction for sponsors and investors. Improving visibility and financial transparency is essential to attract private interest.

However, there are signs of what works. Private clubs such as Relo Stars, champions of the 2024/25 season, and Ikorodu City, promoted in 2024 and already backed by Betking, Indomie and Guinness, show that professional management and strong brand can offer a financial performance and growth. Even so, many private academies throughout the country remain without structuring, undervalueting players who export and do not attract a serious investment.

The solution is in a phase transition. Instead of a complete exit of the government, the adoption of rule 50+1 offers a balanced solution. This Bundesliga model requires that club members, typically fans, have more than 50 percent of vote rights, ensuring community control over key decisions. In practice, this means that fans and local interested parties can shape the club’s address, from the hiring of coaches to establishing ticket prices.

To implement this in Nigeria, communities can begin with a bit of basic structures, such as local associations of fans that manage sales of goods or organize the promotions of the day. This generates commitment and income. The recent figures of fleeting stars illustrate this potential: the club obtained almost 7 million Naira from the sale of tickets during its southwest derby against Ikorodu City, selling 8,425 tickets.

This shows that the NPFL has a large base of followers, a resource that, if maximized through community property, could attract private investors. The government must retain a percentage of property and continue with funds to maintain stability, selling more actions as the clubs become self -sufficient.

The players transfer market further complicates the image. Nigeria led Africa with 229 players sold from June to September 2025 for 7.5 million dollars, compared to the 63 of Morocco for 10.9 million dollars, 66 of Egypt for 14.7 million dollars and 54 of Tunisia for 5.75 million dollars. Most transfers come from private academies, however, their low player income does not attract investors.

Internationally, academies such as Benfica, Ajax and Olympique Lyonnais prosperly develop systematically and negotiating high value agreements, a model based on structured exploration and sales networks. Nigerian academies lack this approach, limiting their potential.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and state soccer associations must address this gap. Too many academies operate without supervision, and even the prominent ones lack income strategies.

The NFF must provide training on modern academy models, establishing guidelines to improve the development of players and financial planning. This support would help academies maximize value, making them viable partners for investors and strengthen the football ecosystem.

Nigerian football faces a structural problem: government agency and weak private systems are depleting a sport with enormous potential.

The solution is not the total withdrawal, but a carefully administered transition, one that combines government support, community property and private investment. Made with discipline, this change would protect the collapse clubs, raise the value of Nigerian talent and place the NPFL on a stronger base in the football economy in Africa. Without it, Nigeria will continue exporting to players in large quantities but will collect little in return.

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