Mikel Obi Compares Nigerian League With South African League

Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has lamented the state of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), drawing comparisons to the South African Premier Soccer League.

The South African Premier Soccer League, which comprises 16 teams and runs from August to May each season, is widely regarded as one of the top five leagues in Africa.

The league has a deal with SuperSports which enables the league to earn an incredible $72 million a season, the biggest television rights deal in African club football.

As of September 2023, the total market value of all the teams participating in the South African DSTV Premiership was €158.14 million.

In a video posted by Ghanaian journalist Sannie Daara, Mikel Obi identified the key components that raised the South African league’s profile.

“I think it’s not the mentality; it’s your organization. Your organization is better than our organization (NPFL),” the 2013 African Cup of Nations winner said.

“If you look at the South African League, it is that good where a player doesn’t have to go abroad to make ends meet to help his family.

“It is something we (Nigerian) have been crying out; we want to see our league better, and we know we can get there because we have so much talent. We want to grow and improve the standard of our league. The facilities for these players to go and the younger ones who aspire to play in the Premier League.

“We have to create an environment where they feel comfortable to improve, and that is something they (South Africans) have, and that is pretty much the difference.”

Mikel Obi spent the first two years of his teenage years playing for Plateau United before relocating to Europe to begin his illustrious professional career.

The now-retired midfielder started his European football career in 2004 with Lyn Oslo.

Later on, he signed with Chelsea, where he spent 11 trophy-filled years as a player.