Tag: Elegbeleye

In a landmark development for Nigerian sports media, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has partnered with Inview Technology, the operators Digital Switch Over (DSO), in a move expected to transform the broadcast, marketing, and commercial landscape of club football in the country.

Speaking about  the partnership, NPFL Chairman , Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye , hailed the collaboration as a long-awaited “game changer” for the league.

 “This partnership is designed to deliver world-class live coverage, centralised content management, and unified sponsorship and marketing strategies. It will enhance fan engagement and create new revenue opportunities for clubs and stakeholders,” Elegbeleye said.

Under the agreement, Inview Technology will provide end-to-end broadcast and streaming solutions, launch a dedicated NPFL TV channel named AfroSoccer, and uphold international production standards while offering local technical training to build domestic capacity in sports media.

The NPFL, meanwhile, will facilitate coordination, regulatory support, and access to league fixtures, venues, and clubs.

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“We are committed to providing an enabling platform for our partners to execute the innovative strategies they bring to the league,” Elegbeleye added.

Fans can look forward to a more immersive experience, whether watching on television or via mobile devices in stadiums or elsewhere. NPFL matches will be broadcast in high definition on the AfroSoccer free-to-air channel, the FreeTV Mobile App, and across more than 25 partner television channels, ensuring nationwide accessibility. The FreeTV App also allows users to pause, rewind, replay, or watch their favourite matches on-demand, anytime and anywhere.

The collaboration is poised to raise the NPFL’s global profile, unlock new commercial opportunities, and strengthen local expertise in sports media production, ushering in a new era for football broadcasting in Nigeria.

• Olamilekan Israel

In the wake of  unending  poor performances of Nigerian teams in African continental competitions, Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, has urged Nigerians not to judge the standard of the domestic league with recent setbacks.

Aside  Super Eagles’ poor showing at the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in the East Africa, three of the country’s flag bearers in the ongoing  CAF Inter-Club Competitions including Remo Stars, Abia Warriors and El-Kanemi have been beaten like pulps by their continental counterparts much to the chagrin of the Nigerian public and press.

Speaking in Lagos while addressing the efforts being made  to reposition the  league for greater growth and credibility, Elegbeleye said recent poor  results are  damaging to the NPFL.

According to him, football remains a vital product that commands global attention, and every nations football identity is reflected in the strength and structure of its domestic league.

 “Football is a product that every country in the world takes seriously and  without a functional league, there is no real football structure,” Elegbeleye said  at the Media Agencies’  Interactive Session for NPFL put together by GTI in conjunction with Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Lagos “However, it would be unfair to judge the NPFL by the performance of the team that represented Nigeria at the recent 2025 CHAN for instance.”

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He  expressed particular disappointment over Nigeria’s  4-0  loss to Sudan at the CHAN, admitting that he personally found it difficult to sleep for days. He clarified that the team that featured in CHAN was not a true representation of the NPFL’s quality or players.

“When Nigeria lost 4-0(to Sudan) at CHAN, I couldn’t sleep for four days but that team was not a representative of our Premier League,” he said. “We have players with real quality in the NPFL. So, people shouldn’t judge the league based on that poor performance  at the CHAN.”

Meanwhile, Elegbeleye  explained that the league board has been working tirelessly to improve the system, attract investors, and ensure transparency in football administration.

“For investors to come into the system, there must be transparency. When StarTimes came, they wanted a 10 year deal but we insisted on a shorter period to prove our worth. Now, the world can see that we are capable of running a quality football league,” he noted.

Elegbeleye also revealed that the NPFL has introduced strict disciplinary measures for referees and clubs to maintain fairness and credibility.

“Any referee found guilty of misconduct will be sanctioned immediately. Likewise, any club that fails to comply with league rules will lose points. For instance, Kano Pillars lost three points after breaching the rules. These steps have helped restore sanity and discipline in our league,” he said.

He also  highlighted the leagues steady progress in rewarding excellence, noting that the league champion’s prize money has continued to rise  from ₦50 million to ₦100 million, ₦150 million, and now ₦200 million for the most recent winners, Remo Stars.

He commended sports journalists for their continuous support and coverage, emphasizing their crucial role in promoting transparency and attracting media rights discussions.

 “Without journalists, we would not be here. You have projected our league to a confident level that makes investors take us seriously. I assure you that we’ll continue to improve and maintain credibility in all we do,” Elegbeleye concluded.

Nigeria Premier Football League(NPFL) players have been commended for a clean bill in the results of random tests carried out by the National Anti -Doping Committee (NADC) of Nigeria.

Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman, welcomed the release of the test results communicated to the league in a letter from the NADC. The agency have also indicated plans to continue with the drug testing exercise in the new season and sought the support of the league.

“I am very satisfied with the outcome of the tests on our players carried out by the NADC and i want to commend our players for staying clean”, Elegbeleye said in his reaction to the content of the letter.

In the letter sent to the NPFL, Odo Raphael Okafor, the Deputy Director/Head Drug Testing, recalled that the tests were conducted to keep the sport of football clean and add integrity to the NPFL.

“As you are quite aware, NADC in her effort to keep the sports of football clean and add integrity  to the league, in line with the World Anti-Doping Code, started drug testing with the 2023/2024   league season.

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“Out of the Thirty-Two (32) Urine sample test carried out in randomly selected match fixtures, the whole results came out to be negative. This indicates that out of the randomly selected  players, none is using substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This is commendable,” Okafor wrote in the letter.

The doping agency informed the NPFL that it would resume random testing of players at selected league matches for the 2025/26 season.

“In NADC continued effort and commitment in maintaining fair play, integrity and protecting the health of our sports men and women, we wish to carry out drug testing in some randomly selected matches in the 2025/2026 league season,” the NADC stated.

In the ongoing season, the NADC indicated that it plans to carry out 16 tests in four match fixtures that would be selected at random.

It sought the support of the NPFL to successfully complete the task.

Elegbeleye assured the agency of support for their activities in the new season, saying, the agency is going to receive total support from the NPFL to ensure another successful round of testing.”

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Chairman, Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, in a recent review of the 2024/25 season passed a vote of confidence in the performance of the Referees and called for a sustenance of the improvement in the new season.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists while reviewing the 2024/25 NPFL season, Elegbeleye said their performance can be rated on the same scale with their counterparts globally.

“I’ve travelled around the world and witnessed some shocking officiating decisions—something you hardly see in the NPFL. That’s why I can confidently say our referees are among the best globally”, he asserted.

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He attributed the marked improvements in the performance of the Referees as a reason those appointed to continental competitions discharged their duties with high marks which has in turn opened more opportunities for their colleagues.

He cited the last Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) U-20 Championship in Egypt and noted that, “at the U-20 Championship in Egypt, a Nigerian referee was involved, and another has been shortlisted for the upcoming WAFCON. This shows clear progress.”

While admitting that there was still more work to do in perfecting the system, Elegbeleye was of the opinion that continued support for training and retraining is required to sustain the gains attained so far.

He invited the media to assist in highlighting the positive performances of individual Referees while also shining the light on irregularities that will keep the league on the growth trajectory.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Football Professional League, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, has expressed delight over the number of away wins and draws recorded so far in the new season which only entered its 4th  Match Day at the weekend.

The league boss said the new season has started with amazing results that will move the country’s football forward.

After the two matches played on Saturday in the Match Day 4, a total of 10 away wins have been recorded with 11 away draws before the start of yesterday’s games.

On Match Day 1, Enyimba defeated Heartland 3-1 away, Remo Stars stunned El-Kanemi Warriors 2-0 in Maiduguri while Niger Tornadoes also piped Kwara United 2-1 in Ilorin.

Rangers defeated Ikorodu United 1-0 in Lagos in the only away win of Match Day 2 while Remo Stars again registered another 2-0 away win in Kano, Niger Tornadoes beat Plateau United 2-1 in Minna, El-Kanemi defeated Nasarawa United 4-3 just as Rivers United also recorded 1-0 win in Makurdi against Lobi Stars.

Only on Saturday, Nasarawa United defeated Ikorodu City 2-1 while Sunshine Stars of Akure defeated Akwa United 2-1 in Uyo.

Elegbeleye stated that these string of away results was a positive development in the domestic league.

He said: “Some games are still pending and so we might still have more away results in the review when teams involved in continental games honour their postponed matches.

 “I am very happy with this development. Win at home syndrome is a thing of the past and so any good team can win anywhere. Pillars have lost in Kano and just on Saturday, Akwa United lost in Uyo. It is football.

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 “What people see in the top leagues like the EPL, Serie A and La Liga is now happening in the NPFL every week.”

Elegbeleye commended the referees for so far doing a good job and urged them to continue just as he also admonished fans to adhere to fair play rules at all times.

 “Fans should understand a good team can win anywhere and so we frown against hooliganism at our league centres,” the league boss added.    

NPFL MATCHDAY 4 RESULTS  

Rivers Utd 2-0 Enyimba 

El-Kanemi 2-2 Plateau Utd.

3SC1-0 Heartland 

Remo Stars 2-1Rangers

Tornadoes 1-1 Insurance 

Abia Warriors 2-0 Kano Pillars 

Bayelsa Utd. 1-1 Kwara Utd.

Katsina Utd. 3-0 Lobi  Stars

Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, has explained that clubs in the league stand to reap financial benefits in the future from the partnership with Spanish side, Sevilla FC. 

Elegbeleye spoke from Spain where he went to formalize  the collaboration that would see NPFL clubs Coaches receive training facilitated by the club.

“In the long run, there would be the possibility of the NPFL youth players attracting offers from international clubs and this will go a long way in ensuring financial stability for our Clubs and reduce their dependence on government for those clubs funded by states”, Elegbeleye told NPFL Media. 

As part of the deal, a team selected during the NPFL U-17 Youth League would be embarking on a training tour to Spain and would be hosted by Sevilla. While in Spain, they will receive training at the club academy and play friendly games.

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“The tour of Spain will provide international exposure to the young players and an opportunity to exhibit their natural skills to attract offers. It is a career development path for the youth team members of NPFL Clubs,” added the league chairman.

The players numbering 30 have training in a camp at the FIFA Goal Project since July 21 and have played trial matches with some Abuja-based clubs.

Elegbeleye also said that the partnership with Sevilla also aims to strengthen sporting and diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Spain. This, he stated has already culminated in a visit to the Spanish ambassador to Nigeria.

In Spain, the NPFL Chairman was hosted by top officials of the LaLiga club led by the President, José María del Nido Carrasco. Carrasco expressed delight at the opportunity to partner with the NPFL, adding that it would grow the club’s fanbase in Africa’s most populous nation.

“We are very happy to be able to work with the Nigerian Premier Football League. Sevilla FC is convinced that this alliance can help NPFL clubs to continue improving and encourage the development of youth players. 

“It is a new decisive step in our internationalisation process and will help our brand to continue to grow in Africa, in a country like Nigeria from which we are receiving a lot of support after the signing of Chidera Ejuke,” he said. 

The partnership made the NPFL a member of Sevilla’s ‘World Club Alliance Program’ which aims to establish the club’s presence globally.

Investment partners and broadcast partners of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and the Sports Media have been commented for the very important roles they played in public acclaim of the league organisation for the 2023/24 season.

Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman cited the partners, GTI Assets Management and StarTimes as partners that have added value to making Nigerians enjoy the NPFL last season.

“This is the second season of working with GTI in providing financial support for the running of the league and creating a marketing strategy to attract investment in the league.

“Our Match Officials have been condemned to perform well because GTI has ensured timely payment of their indemnities and travel allowance as well as their accommodation and feeding such that they no longer have to depend on host clubs,” explained Elegbeleye.

The League Chairman pointed to the broadcast partnership with StarTimes as a fulfilment of a pledge he made at the end of the 2022/23 season, adding “It is commendable that despite the signing of the contract almost midway into the season, StarTimes were able to produce 76 live matches. It would have been more, but for some logistics challenges beyond their control, and the next season will definitely see them producing more games for the growing NPFL fan base, “he assured.

He described the Sports Media as symbiotic partners whose roles are indispensable. “Our relationship with the Sports Media is mutually beneficial because we offer very important roles to each other. The media needs our content to generate news and followers while we enjoy the publicity they bring to our games and exposure for our players”, declared Elegbeleye and promised that “the NPFL will under my leadership continue to collaborate with the media in projecting the league”.

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There has been a general consensus that the just ended season witnessed an uptick in fans attendance, near hitch-free organisation and enhanced live production for television broadcast.

Rangers International of Enugu emerged champions with a game in hand after beating Bendel Insurance 2-0 in Enugu on Matchday 37 and proceeding to win 2-1 against Gombe United in Jos on the last day where they were handed the trophy in a colourful ceremony watched by Governors of Plateau and Enugu states.

Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye took stock of the concluded season and expressed appreciation to the Sports Minister, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), NPFL Board members and staff, the Clubs and the media for their respective contributions to what has been acclaimed as the best season in recent years.

In an emotional congratulatory message to his board members and staff, he expressed appreciation for their group and individual contributions to the successful organisation of the recently ended 2023/24 season.

The NPFL Chairman also sent a thank you message to the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang for the hospitality extended by the state to everyone that took part in the trophy presentation on the last day of the season.

Elegbeleye in acknowledging the support of the Sports Minister, Senator John Enoh and NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau noted that they provided an enabling environment for the smooth running of the league.

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To the Board members and Secretariat staff of the NPFL, the Chairman said, “congratulations to all of us for running a successful league season. I never for once doubted our capacity to get it right, though we are not where we desire, but we are obviously miles away from how we met the league.

“There has been great positive steps achieved within a short span and definitely there are very brighter years ahead for NPFL.  Kudos to you great comrades in the task of building the league”.

He noted that the Governor Mutfwang took time off his very busy state duties to grace the trophy presentation ceremony even when his state sponsored club was not involved.

“It was a very magnanimous act by his excellency, Governor Mutfwang to arrive early to participate in the events of the trophy presentation and host his colleague from Enugu State on a day his state club, Plateau United was on an away game. We are grateful to the government and people of Plateau State for their hospitality,” he stated.

He praised the media for supporting the NPFL through extensive and positive coverage of league matches, players and associate events.

“We enjoyed a robust media partnership which resulted in positive engagement on all media platforms. We took constructive criticisms as good feedback to correct observed errors while the positive reports made the league more popular with the fans”, Elegbeleye said.

Concluding his post mortem, Elegbeleye expressed optimism that the next season would continue on a growth trajectory in the administration and marketing values of the league.

“It is evident that we have in the last two seasons set the foundation to propel the NPFL to an upward growth in all spheres covering administration, quality of play and sponsorship”, concluded Elegbeleye.

In the concluded season, the NPFL enjoyed live coverage of 76 matches on Direct to Home (DTH) Satellite broadcast by StarTimes and 218 live streaming Over the Top (OTT) broadcast by Propel Sports Africa.

Former Nigeria international , Henry Nwosu,  has endorsed the nomination of the Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye for the annual Pitch Awards Sportsmanship category for the year 2023.

In a touching testimony, Nwosu who has coached a number of professional league sides including Union Bank of Lagos and Gateway of Abeokuta, described the former National Assembly member as embodying the traits that are needed for leadership in the country.

“When I was the Coach of the U-17 team back in 2008, Elegbeleye saw me in Abuja and showed interest in how I was getting on with the job. I didn’t have any official car and was moving around in taxis.

“Three days afterwards, he called me to take delivery of a car. I didn’t ask for it and it was not as if we had a relationship beyond saying hello”, Nwosu recalled of his encounter with the then House of Representatives member.

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On the Pitch Award, Nwosu who remains one of the best Super Eagles midfielders insisted that Elegbeleye merits the nomination and in his words, “he deserves to win this award and any award meant to recognise selfless contribution to sports by an individual”.

He said the selfless contributions of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) second vice president is such that “unlike some other people who would assist a Coach the way he did for me, Elegbeleye never for once called to send any player or players to me. He didn’t even make a public show of the gift but was always ensuring that I had a free hand and was comfortable to carry out the task assigned to me by the NFF”

Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, Remo Stars Chairman, Hon. Kunle Soname are the other two nominees for the Sportsmanship Award category.

Elegbeleye was in April crowned the Sports Administrator of the Year, 2023 at the Sportsville Awards.

Nigeria  Premier Football  League (NPFL)  have  named  four  former Nigeria Internationals as mentors  for its  newly created NPFL Youth League.

The quartet so  named  as the NPFL Youth League Ambassadors are former Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough star, Yakubu Aiyegbeni,  former Wolverhampton Wanderers of England midfielder Seyi Olofinjana as well as former Super Eagles captain and coach  Austin Eguavoen and former Super Eagles player, Patrick Pascal.

The NPFL Youth League Ambassadors  are  Benin to encourage and provide mentorship to players of the clubs participating in the maiden NPFL Youth League Championship Finals.

At a brief unveiling ceremony at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, during the opening ceremony of the finals on Sunday, Chairman of the NPFL, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, said the idea of the mentorship is to provide professional role models who would deploy their experience to nurture the young talents to stardom.

Elegbeleye tasked the quartet to use their influence in the round leader game to help discover, nurture, and mentor the next generation of Stars at the youth league.

Eguavoen, who is Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), commended the NPFL for the Youth League initiative and pledged on behalf of the others to adopt the young players as their personal project.

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Aiyegbeni expressed delight at the quality of talents he saw in the opening day’s fixtures and declared that “some of the players we have seen on the first day have all the requirements to make it on the big stage”.

For Olofinjana, the players need professional guidance to reach their full potential.

He said:  “All I can say is that there are potentials in these kids. The skill and mind-set is top notch, and if they don’t put themselves under any tension, they have a good chance to play international football. “

Pastor Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, also lauded the ex-internationals for accepting to work with the NPFL to raise the next generation of Super Eagles players.

“It is noteworthy that you have left your private business engagements to answer this call to serve. It is a demonstration of your readiness to reproduce yourselves for Nigeria, and this is very commendable, “Inyama remarked.

Rivers United defeated Remo Stars 3-1 in the opening game while Plateau United edged Katsina United 2-1 in the second game of the day. Rangers International Youth team, the fifth side in the championship, had an off day.