In a major boost to the commercial fortunes of local football, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has unveiled a $7.5 million title sponsorship deal ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The three-year partnership, worth $2.5 million per season, is expected to increase revenue for participating clubs and strengthen the financial sustainability and commercial appeal of the league.

NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the unveiling of EUROMATCH as the league’s new title sponsor.

According to Elegbeleye, the sponsorship would strengthen the commercial outlook of the NPFL, with 60 per cent of the proceeds from the deal going directly to participating clubs.

He said that the additional revenue would help improve players’ welfare and wages, stressing that the league’s focus should be on promoting its players and giving them greater visibility.

Elegbeleye said the league administration would work largely behind the scenes to ensure that the players, rather than administrators, became the faces of the NPFL.

“We want the world to know our players. Let our league be known. Those of us behind the scenes, let our work reflect and let our work show,” he said

In his remarks, former Minister of Sports and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, commended the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for embracing reforms, saying the $7.5 million three-year sponsorship deal was a clear indication that treating sports as a business could attract investment and strengthen the country’s football industry.

Dare said the NPFL, clubs, their management and ownership, as well as other key stakeholders, had sustained the reform process despite the challenges of the past three years.

He noted that the development was consistent with the Federal Government’s decision about four and a half years ago to classify sports as a business through the National Sports Policy.

According to him, the policy was complemented by a 10-year football master plan designed to develop the sport, attract foreign direct investment, improve branding and make Nigerian football more commercially attractive.

He also linked the development to increased government funding for sports, saying the budgetary allocation had risen from N1.9 billion to N76 billion, stressing that such an increase must be matched by reforms that could be benchmarked against global standards.

On his part, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, described the deal as a major boost for the development of Nigerian football, saying the partnership would strengthen the NPFL and create greater opportunities for clubs and players.

Gusau said the NFF would continue to support the league’s reforms and initiatives aimed at improving the standard, visibility and commercial value of domestic football, urging all stakeholders to work together to sustain the momentum.

Also, the Group Chairman, EUROMATCH GROUP, Sadi Semih, said the company was delighted to partner with the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), describing the three-year sponsorship deal as a strategic investment in Nigerian football and an opportunity to contribute to the growth and international visibility of the league.

Semih said EUROMATCH GROUP was committed to supporting the development of the NPFL and would work with the league and other stakeholders to ensure that the partnership delivers sustainable value for Nigerian football.

The event was attended by former Super Eagles stars, including Daniel Amokachi, Samson Siasia, Austine Eguavoen and Brown Ideye, among others.