A new partnership between a leading gaming and entertainment company and the Nigeria National League (NNL) has injected a significant financial boost into Nigerian football. BetPawa has committed over ₦494 million to sponsor the NNL, Nigeria’s second-tier football league.
Key aspects of the partnership include:
- Locker Room Bonus: A groundbreaking initiative that directly rewards players for every victory. According to reports, 20 players and three technical staff from every winning team will each receive ₦56,000, amounting to a total of ₦1.288 million per club for each victory. With 292 games scheduled, over ₦369 million will be distributed directly to players and staff this season.
- League Operations and Awards: In addition to the player bonuses, ₦100 million will be allocated to support the league’s operations, with another ₦8.1 million set aside for end-of-season awards.
- Tekno as Brand Ambassador: In a move to connect sports and entertainment, BetPawa also announced Afro-pop star Tekno as its brand ambassador. The company stated that the partnership aligns with its strategy to blend music and football to engage with young Nigerians.
This sponsorship is being hailed as a major milestone for Nigerian grassroots football. Officials from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the NNL have expressed optimism that the initiative will help retain talented players in the domestic league, which has long struggled with a lack of proper funding and a high rate of player migration to foreign leagues. The direct, instant payments to players through a digital platform are seen as a way to ensure transparency and accountability, a significant departure from traditional sponsorship models where funds often fail to reach the athletes.
