NPFL board committed to raising league standards – Elegbeleye

By Tosin Omojola –

Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, has reaffirmed the board’s commitment to improving the standard of the Nigerian topflight, despite existing challenges.

Elegbeleye made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja during an event honouring the 2024/25 season league-winning Remo Stars’ coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, and the season’s highest goal scorer, Anas Yusuf of Nasarawa United.

“We will continue to address teething issues that could disrupt the smooth running of the league. Over the last three years, we’ve managed to start and finish each season as scheduled, and this consistency has built confidence from the private sector, which is now willing to work with us. Our goal is to raise the quality and standard of the NPFL, ultimately increasing revenue for clubs and organisers,” said Elegbeleye, a former Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Speaking at the event, Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, who represented the federation’s president, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, expressed the federation’s support for the NPFL board.

“The league is improving week by week. Every day, I receive not less than 20 invitations from clubs abroad. Instead of criticising our league, we should support it because the growth is evident. The NFF board fully supports what the NPFL is doing,” Dr. Mohammed said.

Anas Yusuf, who scored 18 goals to emerge the highest goal scorer, received a monetary reward of two million naira, the same as Coach Ogunmodede.

“Receiving this award will motivate me to work harder. My target for the current season is 20 goals,” Yusuf stated, expressing his appreciation to the NPFL board.

The event highlighted the league’s ongoing efforts to professionalise operations, attract private sector investment, and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian football.