The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeboye Anthony Adeyinka, has hailed the leadership of Nigeria’s three major football leagues—NPFL, NNL, and NLO—for overseeing what he describes as the most transparent, competitive, and integrity-driven season in recent history.
In an interview granted to Sports247 Abuja, Adeboye praised Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL); George Aluo, Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL); and Olushola Ogunnowo, Chief Operating Officer of the Nationwide League One (NLO), for their visionary leadership throughout the 2024/25 season.
According to Adeboye, the Nigerian domestic league system is experiencing a cultural transformation, with away wins becoming more common and the former “win-at-all-cost” mentality fading away. He cited improved officiating, league management reforms, and media engagement as key indicators of this shift.
Adeboye noted that the NPFL concluded with Remo Stars emerging champions in a fiercely contested title race, while eight teams have qualified for the NNL Super 8 Playoffs based purely on merit.
He added that the NLO One Playoffs are currently underway nationwide, with the Division Three playoffs having concluded successfully weeks ago.
Despite his own club, Smart FC of Lagos, not qualifying for the NNL playoffs, Adeboye emphasized that every team that advanced deserved their spot and that stakeholders must prioritize national league development over personal ambition.
He described the 2024/25 season as a major turning point in Nigerian football and predicted that corporate sponsorship will soon follow due to the new standards of professionalism and fairness across the leagues.
Adeboye said the reforms align directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places a premium on youth empowerment through sports.
He reaffirmed the federal government’s continued support for grassroots and professional football initiatives.
“This is not just progress—it’s a paradigm shift,” Adeboye said. “What these league leaders are doing is building a football ecosystem based on merit, integrity, and national pride.”
He concluded by encouraging all stakeholders in Nigerian football to support the current momentum and contribute to the long-term success and sustainability of the domestic leagues.
