Tebas explains decision to open LaLiga office in Nigeria

President of the Spanish Football league, LaLiga, Javier Tebas, has explained that the European competition decided to open an office in Nigeria because it wants to make the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) one of the strongest in the world.

Speaking in Abuja at the weekend during the commissioning of the LaLIga office in Nigeria, Tebas also revealed that opening shop in the country was part of the implementation of the technical and commercial partnership recently signed with the League Management Company (LMC).

“The Spanish League is convinced that together with the Nigerian League, we would be very strong,” he said, adding that the LaLiga will through the partnership provide assistance to the NPFL in the areas of training of coaches, club administrators and exchange of playing tours by LaLiga and NPFL Clubs.

“In about 10 months, the first phase of the partnership would begin to yield results,” he enthused, noting that soon big Spanish clubs like Madrid and Barcelona would play exhibition matches in Nigeria.

He affirmed that in two weeks’ time, a Nigeria club would be playing against some Spanish clubs in Spain.Also speaking at the event, Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Alfonso Barnuevo Sebastian de Erice, explained that the commissioning of the office marked the beginning of a solid presence of LaLiga in Nigeria.

According to him: “LaLiga Foundation in less that few months have shown they have important projects in Nigeria. “Nigeria is the first economy in Africa in terms of GDP, with enormous potentials. For this reason it is important to be here in Nigeria.

“I am happy that already fruitful relations between Nigeria and Spain is expanding to other domains. Nigeria is a strategic partner of Spain in energy matters. Spain is the third client of Nigeria; we buy 4.6 billion euros in gas and oil,” he added.