The Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, has signed a three-year, $7.5 million title sponsorship agreement with EUROMATCH, with participating clubs set to receive 60 per cent of the proceeds.
The deal, worth $2.5 million per season, was unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday, August 26, ahead of the 2026/27 NPFL season.
NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, announced the financial structure at the unveiling, saying the decision to allocate the larger portion of the sponsorship revenue to clubs was intended to improve players’ welfare and earnings.
“Let me announce to you that the deal is about $2.5m every season from EUROMATCH for three seasons. That is $7.5m,” Elegbeleye said.
“That will help in increasing players’ wages. Of course, we don’t give the money to the clubs ourselves, but 60 per cent goes straight to the clubs. That is the agreement. This must be reflected in the welfare of the footballers.”
The agreement represents a major commercial development for the domestic league, which has been pursuing reforms aimed at improving club finances, player welfare, broadcasting, branding and the overall commercial value of the competition.
Elegbeleye said the league’s commercial strategy was focused on making players the central figures in the growth of the NPFL.
“In football and in sport generally, the athletes and the players are the attractions, not the administrators. To be honest, there are players that we want to promote, not those of us who are the administrators.
“The fact is that it is not my business to be in the public eye here. The business is about the players. Nigerians should know them. It is not the business of an administrator to be showing his face everywhere. I can be there, but I should appear in the background.
“Let our players shine. Let the world know them. Let our league be known. Those of us behind the scenes, let our work reflect and let our work show,” he said.
Former Minister of Sports and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, described the sponsorship as evidence that reforms aimed at treating sports as a business were beginning to attract investment.
“First, I think the NPFL must be commended for embracing change and reforms. I know the last three-plus years have not been easy for them, but they have kept at it,” he said.
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“Also, especially the clubs, the management and ownership of the clubs, and the key stakeholders have keyed into that change. And this is what happens when you embrace change that is progressive: you attract investment.
“Seeing this come to life, $7.5m over the next three years is massive. But also, it speaks to the effort we made when we classified sports as a business.”
Dare said the government’s sports-as-business policy was complemented by a 10-year football master plan designed to develop the sport, attract foreign investment, improve branding and increase the commercial value of Nigerian football.
He added that stronger domestic football could also benefit the national teams.
“I think that will also impact what we see in our national teams—the Super Eagles, the Under-20, Under-17 and others,” Dare said.
Dare also said government funding for sports had increased from N1.9 billion to N76 billion, but stressed that increased funding must be accompanied by reforms capable of bringing Nigerian sports up to international standards.
Nigeria Football Federation President, Ibrahim Gusau, described the agreement as a boost for domestic football, saying it would strengthen the NPFL and create greater opportunities for clubs and players.
He said the NFF would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving the standard, visibility and commercial value of the league.
Group Chairman of EUROMATCH GROUP, Sadi Semih, described the agreement as a strategic investment in Nigerian football and pledged to work with the NPFL and other stakeholders to deliver sustainable value and improve the league’s international profile.
The sponsorship comes as the NPFL prepares for the 2026/27 season amid ongoing efforts to strengthen the financial and commercial structure of domestic football.
The 2026/27 NPFL champions are also expected to receive a record N1 billion prize, according to the National Sports Commission.
Former Super Eagles players Daniel Amokachi, Samson Siasia, Austin Eguavoen and Brown Ideye were among dignitaries at the unveiling.