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By Rasaq Oboirien
Nationwide League One (NLO) Chief Operating Officer, Olushola Ogunnowo says the nation’s third-tier domestic league is the biggest football market in Africa.
Ogunnowo said in Lagos during a media briefing with the theme: ‘A Decade of Growth’, which celebrated the league’s achievements over the past 10 years.
“The long journey that we started 10 years ago has yielded multiple dividends.
“The NLO is the biggest league in Nigeria and indeed Africa, with 450 clubs. No country in the continent comes close to it, as we have clubs that have existed for a very long time as community/grassroots teams.
“This makes the NLO the biggest football market in Africa, as there is no transfer window where you don’t find a player from the NLO clubs leaving the shores of Nigeria to further his career.
“The NLO records an average of 75% of player’s transfers in Nigeria, while the other leagues, compliments the rest.
“Our goal is to make NLO the access market for grassroots football in Nigeria and the youth football target market. We aim to produce the highest number of youths participating in the NLO at the grassroots level and continue to strive for and maintain official recognition of the Youth League from FIFA and increased interest from foreign clubs because of our Youth League.
“Also, clubs are reaping the benefits of the enabling environment we have created in NLO, with the different shirt sponsorship deals that have come their way.”
Ogunnowo also spoke on why the city of Kano will host the NLO opening season star match.
“According to a survey, football in Kano has the highest viewership, that’s why the NLO season curtain raiser is a Kano Derby between Kano Pillars Jnr and Kwankwasiya FC at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
“We want to use the medium to show the world what the NLO has to offer when it comes to grassroots football.”
