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Babanjah Laments Low Value of Nigerian Players In Transfer Market, Hails NPFL Over New Sponsorship Deal

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Babanjah Laments Low Value of Nigerian Players In Transfer Market,  Hails NPFL Over New Sponsorship Deal Nasarawa United chairman Solomon Babanjah has lamented the poor transfer fees commanded by Nigerian players abroad, questioning why top performers in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) are being sold for considerably lower figures than players developed in academies. Babanjah made the remarks while speaking with journalists at the NPFL Annual General Meeting and draws in Ibadan, where he also commended the leadership of the league under chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye for securing a new sponsorship deal. According to Babanjah, the NPFL needs to do more to ensure clubs benefit financially from the talents they develop, particularly when their top players secure moves to foreign leagues. “But when was the last time a Nigerian player was sold abroad for a good transfer fee?” Babanjah asked. “Apart from Gbenga, I stand to be corrected, Gbenga Okunowo from Shooting Sta...

NPFL Club Owners Appoint New Executives, Kpalukwu Retains Chairmanship

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NPFL Club Owners Appoint New Executives, Kpalukwu Retains Chairmanship The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Club Owners Association has appointed new executives to oversee the affairs of the association ahead of the 2026/27 NPFL season. The appointments which were anounced after the annual general meeting and draws for the new season in Ibadan on Friday are aimed at strengthening the administrative structure of the association and improving the representation and welfare of NPFL clubs across the country. Those appointed include former Super Eagles captain Dominic Iorfa as Vice Chairman, North(General Manager of Barau FC of Kano), while Taiwo Lekan Salami Chairman of Shooting Stars  will serve as Vice Chairman, South. Other members of the new executive team are Solomon Babanjah(General Manager of Nasaraw) , who was appointed Coordinator; Gabriel Adigwe ,(Inter Lagos) Provost; and Anthony Chukwudi Amaefula , Welfare Officer( Kun Khalifat) The new executives ar...

NPFL Prize Money: Elegbeleye Says League Will Pay ₦200m, NSC to Fund ₦1bn Prize

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NPFL Prize Money: Elegbeleye Says League Will Pay ₦200m, NSC to Fund ₦1bn Prize. By Yemi Sodeeq Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has clarified that the league will retain its existing ₦200 million prize money, while the newly announced ₦1 billion prize for the 2026/27 champions will be funded by the National Sports Commission (NSC). Elegbeleye made the clarification while speaking during the NPFaL’s 2025/26 Annual General Meeting in Ibadan, following the announcement of the new prize structure by NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko. “We are not the ones to pay the ₦1 billion prize money. Our own remains ₦200 million. It is the NSC that will pay,” Elegbeleye said. Dikko had earlier announced in June in Abuja that the champions of the 2026/27 NPFL season would receive a minimum prize money of ₦1 billion. “The champions of the 2026/27 NPFL season will receive a minimum prize money of ₦1 billion,” Dikko said. “The runners-up will receive ₦500 million, w...

NPFL Won’t Jump to ₦2m Minimum Salary for Players, Says Elegbeleye

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NPFL Won’t Jump to ₦2m Minimum Salary for Players, Says Elegbeleye By Yemi Sodeeq The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will not immediately implement the proposed ₦2 million minimum monthly salary for players, with League Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye insisting that the ongoing reforms in the domestic league will be introduced gradually. Elegbeleye made this known while speaking in Ibadan during the NPFL Annual General Meeting, where he addressed the issue of players’ welfare and the proposed minimum wage agreed by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, had in June, during a meeting with top officials of the NFF, disclosed plans to introduce a minimum monthly salary of ₦2 million for NPFL players as part of efforts to improve the welfare and professional standards of players in the domestic league. However, Elegbeleye explained that while the league is committed to improving players’ earnings, th...

Kumbi Titiloye: New NPFL Sponsorship Deal Will Improve League Organisation, Player Welfare

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Kumbi Titiloye: New NPFL Sponsorship Deal Will Improve League Organisation, Player Welfare Kwara United Chairman Kumbi Titiloye has expressed optimism that the new sponsorship deal secured by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will significantly improve the organisation of the league and the welfare of its key stakeholders. Speaking to journalists at the 2025/26 NPFL Annual General Meeting, Titiloye said the sponsorship would provide the league with the resources needed to better cater to players, referees and other critical aspects of the competition. “The new sponsorship deal will definitely make the league better organised and enable it to adequately cater to players’ welfare, referees’ indemnities and other important areas. It will be a good development for the league this season,” he said. Titiloye, who also serves as a board member of the league, said stakeholders have been working tirelessly to position the NPFL among the best leagues in Africa. According to ...

NPFL Terminates Propel Sports Africa Deal Over Failure to Fulfil Broadcast Rights Obligations

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NPFL Terminates Propel Sports Africa Deal Over Failure to Fulfil Broadcast Rights Obligations By Yemi Sodeeq The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has officially terminated its broadcast agreement with Propel Sports Africa ahead of the 2026/2027 season. NPFL Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, confirmed the development while speaking on the league’s broadcast arrangements at the annual general meeting and draws for the new season in Ibadan, explained that the decision was taken after Propel Sports Africa allegedly failed to fulfil some of its obligations under the agreement. According to Elegbeleye, Propel Sports Africa was able to broadcast about 80 per cent of the league’s matches but the company’s failure to meet key broadcast rights obligations ultimately led to the termination of the deal. “Propel Sports showed 80% of the league matches, but unfortunately, we have to terminate the deal because they failed to fulfil broadcast rights obligations,” Elegbeleye said...

John Obuh: I'm more comfortable being a coach than a club chairman

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John Obuh: I’m More Comfortable Being a Coach Than a Club Chairman By Yemi Sodeeq Abia Warriors Chairman John Obuh has admitted that he feels more comfortable in the technical area as a coach than in the boardroom as a club chairman. Obuh made the revelation while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the Annual General Meeting in Ibadan, where he compared his experiences as a coach and football administrator. The former coach said although both roles come with significant pressure, coaching gives him greater control over decisions and allows him to directly implement his ideas. “I prefer being a coach because, as a coach, I know what I want to do and the decisions I need to make. But now, I am not the one making the changes or taking the decisions. I have to rely on another person, and that puts me under even more pressure,” Obuh said. According to him, his responsibilities as chairman have brought even greater pressure than he experienced during his coaching ...