NPFL Chairman Links League Success To Nigeria’s AFCON Triumph
The Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, has urged the Super Eagles to secure the country’s fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to expand the domestic football ecosystem.
Elegbeleye, who also serves as the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said success at AFCON will also stimulate football business in general as domestic and international investment in the sport will spike.
The NPFL Boss said this on the sidelines of the sendoff dinner for the team in Lagos by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and noted that winning the title will trigger a domino effect of increased interests in football in the youth population.
“As it stands, there’s growing interest in football among young boys and girls but winning the fourth AFCON title will energise more numbers and increase their appetite to be like their compatriots who made the success possible,” Elegbeleye said.
“It is not in doubt that domestic football has been on the upward trajectory in terms of investments, especially in the league. Winning the AFCON will add impetus in our capacity to attract higher domestic and foreign investors because success is a magnate to industry.”
Elegbeleye noted that the NPFL Board, Clubs and their players would be routing for the Super Eagles, a reason for the rescheduling of MatchDay 18 fixtures that clashed with Nigeria’s opening match on Sunday.
The Super Eagles open their quest for honours at the tournament on Sunday with a Group A fixture against Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria will face hosts Cote D’Ivoire on Thursday, January 18th in the second group game, begore facing Guinea Bissau in last game on Monday, January 22nd.
