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In a landmark moment for Nigerian club football, Ikorodu City Football Club has rewritten the commercial playbook by becoming the first Nigeria Premier Football League team to feature three front-of-shirt sponsors.
Ikorodu City now takes to the pitch with global beverage brand, Guinness, as the latest brand, betting and entertainment brand, BetKing, and CFMoto on its chest.
With this off-the-pitch feat, the club becomes the most buzzworthy in Nigeria’s football business.
With the inclusion of CFmoto, the club initially raised the bar and became the first to have two sponsors on their jersey. An unprecedented record has been attained with GUINNESS!
Trailblazer
Makurdi based amateur side became the first Nigerian side to have multiple sponsors on its shirt, but Ikorodu City’s feat make the Lagos side the first from the professional rank.
The bold move not only underscores the growing appetite for sports brand partnerships in Nigeria but also positions Ikorodu City as a trailblazer in football marketing as the sponsorship reflects a powerful mix of industries converging on the NPFL stage.
Traditionally, Nigerian clubs have struggled to attract consistent sponsorship, often relying on a single brand deal that rarely covers the true cost of running a professional team.
By signing on three distinct partners for the most visible asset in football – the jersey front – Ikorodu City has demonstrated that innovative thinking and strong brand alignment can unlock new revenue streams.
Benefits
For sponsors, the benefits are equally compelling.
Associating with Ikorodu City offers not just exposure to passionate fans but also alignment with a young, ambitious club that embodies resilience and innovation – qualities that resonate with today’s Nigerian consumer market.
As Ikorodu City takes to the pitch in its history-making jersey, one thing is clear: the club has not just broken a record; it has opened a new chapter in the business of football sponsorship in Nigeria.
The club has not just broken a record — it has opened a new chapter in the business of football sponsorship in Nigeria.
The question now is whether others will follow its lead.
About the writer
Ojeikere Aikhoje, Founder of MatchRoom Football Business Institute, Lagos, works with Sports PR Agency, www.matchroom.com.ng and has over 3 decades international experience in the sports as well as editorial industry, including a strong background in journalism, sport business and social media management.
Aikhoje is a two-time member of the Lagos Business School (LBS) Sports Business Management Programme (SBMP). He writes regularly about Fan Engagement in football and Sports Geography.
You can reach him @ ojeikereaikhoje@gmail.com or @ojeksaikhoje on X.
