Nigerian domestic football is moving into a new digital era after the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) unveiled a major YouTube streaming agreement with Murphy Ben International (MBI), aimed at changing how the competition is watched, marketed and monetised.
The deal was formally completed at a signing ceremony and will make NPFL fixtures accessible on mobile phones, smart TVs, laptops and other devices connected to the internet. It represents a significant expansion in the league’s approach to broadcasting, content production, supporter interaction and commercial growth.
NPFL chairman Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye hailed the agreement as a defining moment, saying it fulfils the board’s ambition of taking live league football closer to supporters, regardless of their location.
For a long time, Nigerian fans have repeatedly asked where they could watch NPFL matches. Elegbeleye said that uncertainty had now been resolved.
“No one will be able to say again that they missed the game because they could not find it,” he said. Selected fixtures will be shown live, while several other matches from each matchday will be made available later. All of the coverage will be free to watch in High Definition on the NPFL’s official YouTube channel.
The agreement comes after several weeks of planning between league officials and MBI. Their discussions included senior-level meetings in Abuja and an inspection visit to MBI’s headquarters in Lagos, with both sides working on a digital structure capable of presenting Nigerian league football to viewers around the world.
Elegbeleye stressed that the project is not limited to putting live games on the internet. He said the broader digital plan is intended to open additional income channels, raise the league’s profile and improve the commercial outlook for its clubs, while giving players an international showcase for their abilities.
The chairman said the NPFL chose Murphy Ben International because the company shared its determination to reshape domestic football and give it a global identity. He compared the ambition with the international success achieved by Nigerian music and Nollywood in taking the country’s culture to audiences abroad.
“With its digital and technical strength, MBI will help improve the NPFL’s production and distribution,” Elegbeleye added. “It will also place strong emphasis on the human stories that exist within the league.”
Murphy Anawana, chairman of Murphy Ben International, called the partnership a historic chance to raise the standing of the domestic game.
He pledged that MBI would use its broad production resources and substantial social-media presence to help establish the NPFL as Africa’s leading football competition.
Anawana said the collaboration would cover online broadcasting, narrative content, publicity, supporter engagement and commercial alliances. In his view, it would allow the clubs, footballers, coaches and devoted fans of the NPFL to reach a much wider audience while demonstrating the genuine standard of Nigerian football.
The emphasis on media and digital distribution could be especially important for a competition that has developed many world-class players over the years but has often struggled to deliver its matches reliably to international viewers.
As part of the agreement, the official NPFL YouTube channel will become the league’s main online destination. Supporters will find live games, complete match replays released after the event and a range of in-depth storytelling material covering every matchday.
