Super Eagles' AFCON Triumph, Good Omen For NPFL, Says Elegbeleye

Super Eagles' AFCON Triumph, Good Omen For NPFL, Says Elegbeleye

By Precious Oham

Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye has urged the Super Eagles to secure the country's fourth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to expand the domestic football ecosystem, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

Elegbeleye spoke to the NPFL Media on the sidelines of the sendoff dinner for the team in Lagos and noted that winning the title will trigger a domino effect of increased interests in football in the youth population.

The NPFL Boss who also serves as the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said success at AFCON will also stimulate football business in general as domestic and international investment in the sport will spike.

"As it stands, there's growing interest in football among young boys and girls but winning the fourth AFCON title will energise more numbers and increase their appetite to be like their compatriots who made the success possible", remarked the former National Parliamentarian.

"It is not in doubt that domestic football has been on the upward trajectory in terms of investments, especially in the league. Winning the AFCON will add impetus in our capacity to attract higher domestic and foreign investors because success is a magnate to industry."

He noted that the NPFL Board, Clubs and their players would be routing for the Super Eagles, a reason for the rescheduling of MatchDay 18 fixtures that clashed with Nigeria's opening match on Sunday.

The Super Eagles open their quest for honours at the tournament on Sunday with a Group A fixture against Equatorial Guinea with the second group game against hosts, Cote D'Ivoire on Thursday, January 18 and last game on Monday, January 22 against Guinea Bissau.