Why Nigerian football clubs are not successful

Jan 31, 2022|Anne-Marie Amadi-Emina

I may get some pitiful looks for this claim, but I am an Arsenal fan.

No, it is not against my own will, and as much as I have tried to question why I remain a stan despite the team's abysmal performance in recent years (COYG), I remain a loyal Gunner. Mostly because of my brother.

My brother takes football very seriously. From his home decor to his annual acquisition of the club's jerseys, most of his belongings all have a stamp of Arsenal's signature cannon. Over the years, I watched him yell, cry, rejoice and question the team's game tactics. He passed that passion down to me.

Some takeaways:

The football industry is one of the world's most popular sporting activities, with an estimated 4 billion fans and global revenues equaling $28 billion yearly. Yet, Nigeria seems to be lagging in mass appeal and revenue generation.
The state-owner nature of Nigeria’s local football clubs may be the blocker behind its potential success, as government participation is often associated with ineffectiveness and mismanagement.
Seeking to privatise the nation's football clubs through joint ventures or other public-private partnerships is a redemptive future outlook for the country's beaming sports sector.

You can say the same for Nigerian football fans as well. The love for the game is so impeccable it has blown up the sports betting industry—about 4 in 10 Nigerians engage in betting activities. And while the European and Spanish leagues have bolstered Nigeria's huge football culture, our indigenous clubs also have a place in fans' hearts.

Nigeria's Super Eagles (national team)