Coronavirus Crisis: Nigeria Legend Thumbs Up NPFL Clubs

Nigerian clubs should be commended for reacting better to the pandemic than their European counterparts, says former Super Eagles winger Tijani Babangida.

The one-time Ajax star has applauded NPFL clubs for not slashing the salary of their players amidst the financial struggle being faced by organizations in the face of COVID-19 outbreak.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which as of April 22 has killed more than 182,000 people globally, has affected football clubs and events across the world.

With their income streams worst hit, clubs are looking for ways to cut down on expenses.

Players salary is expected to be among the first to be affected with Arsenal the first Premier League club to agree on salary reductions.

Despite most NPFL clubs being government-owned, Babangida praised the clubs for putting the welfare of the players first.

“Apart from a football club in Yobe that revealed a cut in the salary of its players, I don’t think there is any other club that have announced that. And this tells you that clubs in Nigeria are doing their best in this COVID-19 pandemic crisis,” Babangida told the Guardian. 

“Now the sporting world will know that Nigerian clubs too have tried unlike the news from clubs in Europe.

“Though our players may not be getting the kind of jumbo pay their counterparts from Europe get, we should be happy that nothing has stopped in terms of them receiving their salaries.”

“Clubs are in difficult situations right now, just like the clubs around the world.”