FIFA holds 2-day club management program in Nigeria

Officials of world football governing body, FIFA, have arrived in Nigeria to oversee a two-day workshop for chairmen and chief operating officers of the country’s football leagues and Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs. The event is taking place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Tuesday, 3rd June, and Wednesday, 4th June 2025.

The workshop is aimed at critically examining the management models of Nigerian football clubs and leagues, with the goal of introducing new perspectives on governance, enhancing commercial viability, and expanding the administrators’ global outlook to drive real growth and sustainability.

A total of 40 participants are expected from the 20 NPFL clubs (the chairman and CEO of each), alongside the chairmen and chief executive officers of the NPFL, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League, and Nigeria Nationwide League One.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, will lead a small delegation from the Federation, which includes NFF Second Vice President, Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, and General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

FIFA’s delegation is led by El Hadji Wack Diop, Head of FIFA’s Regional Office for West and Central Africa, and includes Rasoamahenina Sanda Manonisoa, Marcos Piccalo, Federico Perez, Javier Sobrino, and Laurent Colette.

Colette is a former managing director of French top-flight club Olympique de Marseille, while Sobrino previously served as chief strategy and innovation officer at Spain’s leading club, FC Barcelona.

Each NPFL club is expected to submit a document outlining a clear pathway to financial autonomy, leveraging the clubs’ history and assets to grow into globally competitive brands.

The sessions will cover key areas such as strategic planning, finance, marketing, commercial operations, and governance.