National Sports Commission Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade hailed the leadership of the NPFL board headed by Gbenga Elegbeleye after a dramatic closing day in Lagos, where Rangers International secured the 2025/26 championship at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena. While praising the quality on show, Olopade also urged stakeholders to chase major, multi-billion-naira sponsorships to reflect the league’s rising national appeal.
Key takeaways
- Rangers International won the 2025/26 NPFL title on the final day at Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
- Hon. Bukola Olopade praised the Elegbeleye-led NPFL board for the progress made across recent seasons.
- Olopade called for several “mega” sponsorship deals worth multibillion naira to match the league’s growing profile.
- She advised that the NFF, NSC and the league board must coordinate to ensure proper funding for the NPFL.
- On the same matchday, Ikorodu City lost 2-1 to Rangers, while Rivers United beat Katsina United 3-0 in Port Harcourt.
Olopade celebrates the Lagos finale and the standard of football
Olopade attended the venue to present the championship trophy to Rangers and described what unfolded as a spectacle that should make Nigerians proud. He also pointed to visible improvement in the league’s presentation and competition level, noting that the Super Eight had previously been staged at the same ground.
Congratulating the league chairman directly, Olopade said the work being done was “amazing” and comparable to the progress of the past few campaigns. He singled out the atmosphere at the arena, calling it exceptional, and extended praise to Rangers alongside Ikorodu City and Rivers United for the entertainment delivered in the title race.
Next step: bigger commercial deals for a rapidly growing league
After the celebrations, Olopade used the occasion to press home a clear target for the league’s future. He argued that while structure, planning and scheduling have improved, the NPFL must now focus on attracting multiple large-scale sponsors, warning that the next frontier is commercial investment to match its momentum.
Olopade stressed that the NFF, the NSC and the NPFL board need to move together to ensure the competition is financed adequately, reflecting its expanding visibility and growing status. In his view, the league is “ripe” for sponsorship at multibillion-naira levels, and collective efforts are required to secure those deals.
Final-day results decide the title
The concluding fixtures delivered a thrilling finish. Rangers edged Ikorodu City 2-1 in Lagos, while Rivers United secured a 3-0 victory over Katsina United in Port Harcourt. With the outcomes aligning, Rivers United finished level on points only to fall short by a single place, handing Rangers the crown.
At the Lagos event were also Adeyinka Adeboye, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, along with NPFL Chairman Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye.
The 2025/26 season, under Elegbeleye’s stewardship, represents another step forward for the NPFL, with stronger organisation and growing confidence among stakeholders. Olopade’s remarks suggest the league’s most significant commercial chapter is still ahead, provided the push for major sponsorships gains traction.
