Football in Nigeria
| Football in Nigeria | |
|---|---|
Nigeria vs Argentina friendly match line up in 2018 | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Governing body | Nigeria Football Federation |
| National team | national football team |
| First played | 1904 |
| National competitions | |
| Club competitions | |
| International competitions | |
With about 67% of the population following, football is the most popular sport in Nigeria. The Nigeria national football team competes regularly for international titles and many Nigerian footballers compete in Europe, particularly in England. Nigeria has one of the finest national teams in Africa and has produced many notable footballers including Mudashiru Lawal, Rashidi Yekini, Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Mikel John Obi and Victor Osimhen.
In tracing its growing popularity within the nation, Nigerian football can be traced back to football's implementation in schools, particularly in Caliber. From there, it would only spread throughout Nigeria. Despite an eventual civil war, the eventual creation of the Enugu Rangers post-civil war would only continue to build the sense of community Nigeria would become known for.
Polling shows the majority of Nigerians watch international and domestic football. Due to the number of Nigerian players in the English Premier League and the fact that Nigeria is an English-speaking country, the majority of Nigerians support an English club. The most popular football clubs in Nigeria are Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona are also popular among Nigerians.