Dozy Mmobuosi boosts NPLF Super Cup with N1b star prize

Winner of the 2023 Dozy Mmobuosi Super Cup Football Tournament, slated for later this year, will get N1 billion as star prize, the organisers have said.

The tournament, organised by The Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation and the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), will be expanded to NPFL 12 clubs from the four that participated in the debut edition last year.

According to the organisers, the first runner-up will smile home with N200 million, while each of the other teams will get N20 million as participation fee.

The organisers said the decision to increase the prize money and the number of participating teams was made in response to overwhelming demand from fans and stakeholders.

Speaking on the competition, Dozy Mmobuosi said: “Following the huge success recorded in the maiden edition last December, it became necessary to increase the funding and allow teams to invest more resources in players, facilities and infrastructure to attract top talents to the league and also raise the overall standard of football in Nigeria.”

In his reaction, Chairman, NPFL’s Interim Management Committee (IMC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, described the development as a huge boost to the evolving reforms aimed at stabilising the league.

While expressing gratitude over the development, Elegbeleye commended Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation for the partnership with the NPFL.

“The Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation Pre-season Tournament is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talent in the league, promote Nigerian football to a broader audience and inspire teams and players to contribute to the growth of the sport in the country,” Elegbeleye said.

Echoing Elegbeleye’s position, IMC’s Head of Operations, Davidson Owumi, described the development as consistent with IMC’s vision to reposition the league to become financially rewarding to clubs and by extension, players and coaching staff.

On organisation of a seamless tournament, CEO, Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation, Ebuwa Martins Agbonwaneten, said an organising committee, comprising representatives of his organisation and the NPFL, has been constituted to manage various aspects of the event.

He reiterated the foundation’s commitment to using sports as a vehicle to support social and economic development in Nigeria.

“The Dozy Mmobuosi Super Cup Football Tournament is an excellent platform to promote the growth and development of football in Nigeria and we look forward to another successful tournament and the opportunity to showcase the best of Nigerian football,” Agbonwaneten stated.

The inaugural edition of the Super Cup held in December 2022 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan emerging champions to claim the N100 million top prize.

All the four participating teams received appearance fee of N10 million each.

Mmobuosi is a Nigerian businessman and tech entrepreneur based in the United Kingdom. He is an advocate for technological advancement and industrial revolution in Africa. He is the founder and CEO of Tingo Inc.

The Nigerian billionaire, with strong passion for football, is currently seeking to acquire English club, Sheffield United, in a deal said to be worth around £90 million.