The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has announced a sweeping reform package for Nigerian football, including a proposed minimum prize money of ₦1 billion for the winners of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) beginning next season.
Key Highlights:
Dikko made the announcement while briefing reporters in his office after a high-level strategic meeting on Tuesday involving the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), held to chart a new direction for the development of Nigerian football.
According to him, the meeting reviewed key issues affecting the game and outlined collaborative measures aimed at strengthening the national teams, improving the domestic league and laying a solid foundation for long-term success.
“Today’s meeting was essentially to take stock of the key issues before us and determine how we can collaborate more effectively to advance Nigerian football and lay the necessary foundation for long-term success,” Dikko said.
He disclosed that one of the major outcomes of the meeting was an agreement on a new contract framework and improved remuneration package for the Super Eagles head coach Chelle, with the NFF expected to complete the necessary documentation.
“We have agreed on a new remuneration package for the coach, improved welfare for his assistants and performance benchmarks. The coach expressed satisfaction with the outcome,” he stated.
Dikko also revealed that the Super Eagles coaching crew would henceforth oversee the national Under-23 team as part of a long-term strategy to ensure continuity in player development.
According to him, the arrangement will create a seamless pathway for emerging talents into the senior national team while helping Nigeria begin preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
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“The objective is to start building now for 2030 by identifying and developing the next generation of players. We must begin preparing today if we want to compete successfully tomorrow,” he said.
On the women’s national team, Dikko said the NSC and NFF agreed on a comprehensive preparation plan for the Super Falcons ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
He disclosed that the programme would include camping in Nigeria before moving to Morocco for international friendly matches, while issues relating to players’ welfare and remuneration had also been addressed.
The NSC chairman said the meeting also focused extensively on reforming the domestic league, describing it as the foundation of Nigerian football.
He explained that the NSC, NFF and NPFL agreed to strictly enforce club licensing regulations, insisting that clubs must meet the highest professional standards.
“Professional football must be run professionally. If strict enforcement means fewer clubs qualify initially, then so be it. What is important is raising standards,” Dikko said.
To encourage compliance with the enhanced licensing requirements, he announced a major financial intervention that would significantly increase the league’s prize money.
“Beginning next season, the winner of the Nigeria Premier Football League will receive a minimum prize money of ₦1 billion through the intervention of the National Sports Commission in collaboration with the league,” he announced.
Dikko said the incentive is expected to encourage greater professionalism among clubs, improve competitiveness and raise the overall quality of the domestic league.
Earlier, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau said the meeting was convened to strengthen collaboration between the federation, the league and the National Sports Commission ahead of several key football assignments.
He noted that Nigeria will defend its Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in July while preparations are also underway for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September.
“We felt it was important for us to meet and discuss how we can work together to ensure success in these programmes. Whatever we intend to achieve in Nigerian football requires collaboration,” Gusau said.
He described the discussions as fruitful and expressed confidence that the partnership between the NFF, NSC and NPFL would continue in the interest of Nigerian football.
Also speaking, Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, commended the growing synergy among football stakeholders, saying the reforms reflect a new direction in sports administration.
“Like it or not, we have changed the way sports are administered in this country, and we make no apology for that,” Olopade said.
He thanked the NFF leadership, league officials and stakeholders for their commitment to working together, expressing optimism that the collaboration would help build a stronger future for Nigerian football.
