FIFA CLUB MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME BERTHS IN NIGERIA

Officials of world football-governing body, FIFA, have arrived in Nigeria for a two-day workshop for chairmen and chief operating officers of Nigeria’s football league and premier league clubs. FIFA’s delegation is led by El Hadji Wack Diop, Head of FIFA Regional Office for West and Central Africa, and includes Rasoamahenina Sanda Manonisoa, Marcos Piccalo, Federico Perez, Javier Sobrino and Laurent Colette. The workshop is taking place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, beginning from Tuesday, June 3 to Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The workshop is geared towards taking a critical look into the management model of Nigeria football clubs and the leagues, with the purpose of opening new vistas and insights in proper governance. It will also explore ways to improve commercial viability of Nigerian leagues and broaden the world-view of the administrators to drive their teams towards real growth and sustainability. A total of 40 participants are from all the 20 Nigeria Premier Football League clubs are expected to attend the workshop. The participants are to be drawn from the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nigeria Nationwide League One. Each of the 20 NPFL clubs is expected to submit a document indicating a clear pathway to financial autonomy, while taking good advantage of the history and assets of the clubs to grow them into global brands. President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, will lead a small team from the Federation, alongside the NFF 2nd Vice President, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, and the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.