Exclusive: NPFL Chairman Elegbeleye Reveals Ambitious Plan to Make Nigerian League Africa's Best

Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, states that his primary goal is to make the NPFL the best football league in Africa within a few years.

Under the leadership of the experienced sports administrator, the Nigerian topflight has experienced growth and transformation, greatly boosting the league's overall competitiveness and appeal.

This revitalization has sparked greater interest in the competition, drawing more fans to the stadiums and increasing viewership. Once described as being in a state of comatose, the NPFL is now also attracting both local and international investors.

Despite this meteoric growth, the Nigeria Football Federation Second Vice President who was once the Director-General of the National Sports Commission remains determined, hoping to achieve even more to restore the league to its rightful place.

"My immediate priority is to maintain the transparency we’ve been fostering, as it’s proving effective," Elegbeleye told SportsBoom.com.

"We aim to attract investors to ensure our players earn better salaries, enabling our top talents to stay in Nigeria longer rather than leaving prematurely. 

"With this approach, we’ll be better positioned to excel in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup."

NPFL CAN BE THE BEST IN AFRICA

Renowned for its rich history, passionate fanbase, and the high caliber of players and coaches it has produced, Nigeria's topflight is undoubtedly a prominent league on the global stage.

When asked about the future of the league in the next two to three years, Elegbeleye reveals that the NPFL's upward trajectory has the potential to make it the best in Africa – a vision he remains deeply passionate about.

"I’m confident that within the next two to three years, we’ll achieve bigger things, as investors are already showing interest. By the time we reach that stage, we’ll be aiming to be the best league in Africa," he continued.

"There’s no reason we can’t achieve this, as we have the talent and, more importantly, the strong managerial ability and sincerity of purpose among those managing the league and the Nigeria Football Federation. 

"The NFF has been very cooperative, so kudos to them. Thanks to the Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF Executive, for instance, our referees now use communication gadgets on the field, marking a significant improvement. 

"We are also working on training referees further so they can fully utilize these tools independently. With these advancements, I am confident that within the next one or three seasons, the Nigerian league can become the best in Africa."

TACKLING THE MENACE OF UNPAID WAGES

Despite significant progress, the NPFL continues to face challenges like unpaid wages and financial stability. However, the NPFL chairman assures that efforts are underway to resolve these issues and further improve the league’s quality and reputation.

He explained that measures have been put in place to hold clubs accountable, with his administration ensuring that any outstanding payments are directly deducted from the clubs' broadcast revenue, guaranteeing fair and timely compensation for players.

Elegbeleye stated: "Clubs that owe players this season have been held accountable. We’ve made it clear that if they don’t settle their debts, we’ll stop them from playing matches, and they’ve complied.

"So, clubs can no longer owe players. Once we receive our broadcast money, we’ll directly deduct what is owed to the players from the club’s share. That issue is now resolved—it's a done deal. That’s the reality."

WHAT HAS MADE THE NPFL STRONG THIS SEASON?

Elegbeleye credits transparency, improved officiating, better investments, and increased media coverage for the NPFL's growth this season, making the league more competitive and attracting both fans and investors.

"I would say it’s all about transparency and good officiating. When league managers are transparent in their dealings and adhere to best practices, it ensures fairness," he continued.

"There’s no cutting corners—teams win based on merit, and that’s what makes the competition truly competitive. Teams can now go away and win anywhere, which makes the league more exciting. 

"The unpredictability is drawing crowds back to the stadium, as you can't easily predict the outcome of a match. For example, on our first matchday this season, we had three away wins—something quite unusual in Nigerian football. 

"We’re also getting more television coverage than before, which is a big step forward. We’re also now on OTT (over-the-top) platforms, so you can watch our matches live on your smartphone, no matter where you are in the world. 

"This has attracted more people who truly value football and It’s going to be a win-win situation for the Nigerian Football League, particularly the Premier League."

One of the biggest achievements under Elegbeleye's leadership is the return of Super Eagles icons to the NPFL. 

While Nigeria internationals Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi joined Kano Pillars as players, former African Player of the Year Emmanuel Amuneke, Finidi George, Daniel Amokachi, and Nwankwo Kanu now hold key administrative roles at Heartland, Rivers United, Lobi Stars, and Enyimba, respectively.