Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, has shed light on the motivation behind the establishment of the NPFL Youth League, describing it as a deliberate effort to build a self-sustaining football development structure in Nigeria.
Speaking at the World Football Summit in Madrid, Spain, the NPFL boss said the initiative aims to create a pathway for young talents to progress into senior teams, ensuring the league consistently produces players capable of matching global stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
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“Our football economy is still developing,” Elegbeleye explained. “We realized that to grow sustainably, clubs must have feeder teams that nurture young players who can later represent the senior sides and even the national team. Without that system, the league won’t be productive enough.”
He noted that the youth league’s regional format was designed to reduce travel stress for young players and encourage wider participation across the country.
“Because of Nigeria’s vast size, we opted for zonal playoffs to minimize travel. The top six clubs from the zones will advance to the Super Six tournament, scheduled for December, where the national youth champion will emerge,” he said.
Elegbeleye emphasized that the NPFL Youth League is more than just a competition — it’s a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian football. “We want clubs to take ownership of talent development. There are many gifted players in Nigeria; our job is to create platforms for them to compete and grow,” he added.
Currently, selected players from the league are in Abeokuta under the supervision of experienced coach Eugene Agagbe, further underscoring the NPFL’s commitment to developing grassroots football.
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