Nigeria Premier League To Be Broadcasted By Supersport

Sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi has praised the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) and the League Management Committee (LMC) for brokering a $34m broadcast rights deal of the Nigeria Premier League with SuperSport, which will run from 2015 to 2019.

According to him, “Today, I can say this loud and clear that this is the same league that less than a year ago were asking clubs to pay the indemnities of referees. This is the same league that less than one year ago, a company in this country said it is completely worthless. But this same league today we are talking of a deal of $34 million. So the past is very important.

“I would like to thank Nigeria Football Federation, led by President Aminu Maigari for making this happen. The NFF President can now confidently anywhere blow his trumpet because he has a trumpet to blow. The reason is that when we were struggling with what to do with the league he supported genuine cause and argument that the domestic league should be repackaged which is now yielding positive dividend.”

Earlier, the LMC chairman, Nduka Irabor had explained the details of the deal, noting that “With this, Nigerians will have the pleasure of watching six matches a week. And this means happier days are ahead. This contract has also seen SuperSport assuring that Nigerians who are working with them will have their jobs secured at least till 2019.”

“It’s also important to know that for every year beginning from this year, they have agreed to give us $2m per year beginning from the season meaning we will be having more money in the league,” Irabor noted.

At the joint press briefing on Monday, the Irabor had presented the deal package to the Minister in the company of Supersport General Manager in Nigeria, Felix Awogu.