NPFL 2025/26 Front-Of-Shirt Sponsorship Report: Which sector dominated the shirts?

By OJEIKERE AIKHOJE

Betting brands maintained their dominance of front-of-jersey sponsorship landscape in the2025/25  Nigeria Premier Football League, according to findings by authoritative sports business publication, SPORTBUSINESS+Brands magazine.

Despite the reduction from six betting brands in the 2024/25 season season (Bet9ja, IXBET, Stake, SUNBETH, BetKing and 22Bet) to four in the just concluded 2025.26 season, the betting brands remain on dominant.

Bet9ja, BetKing, Stake and new entrant BC Game sponsored Remo Stars, Ikorodu City, Enyimba and Kwara United, respectively.

Betting brands

Bet9ja has the longest running sponsorship as it has been associated with Remo Stars since the inception of the club, while BetKing’s sponsorship of Ikorodu City was consummated when Ikorodu City campaigned as a second-tier side.

Stake’s relationship with former Nigerian champions, Enyimba, entered in its second season.

BC Game first ever sponsorship in the NPFL was with Kwara United. The Ilorin side replaced 22Bet with BC Game.

Bet9ja and BetKing are Nigerian brands showing the strength of domestic brands.

Other Sectors

The Financial sector, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Energy, Agriculture, Construction, Media, Real Estate, Dining and Automobile all accounted for one deal each in the NPFL.

Investment brand, Afrinvest, entered its third season with Enugu based Rangers International and it turned out to be a worthy partner for Rangers. Interesting, the Enugu side won the 2025/26 season which is likely to see Afrinvest extend the deal.

New Deals

GUINNESS, Contrix, rfi, Old English Bar and Grills, CFmoto as well as BC Games were the latest brands that associated with clubs in the league.

Sleeve Sponsorship

Brands from Fast-Moving Consumer Goods, Agriculture and Aviation sectors were sleeve sponsors of clubs.

Indomie (Ikorodu City), Notra (Rangers), United Airlines (Enyimba), and ValueJet (Remo Stars) were sleeve sponsors this term.

Back-Of-Shirt Sponsor

JEFF Xchange was the only brand as back-of-shirt sponsor, and had a space at the back of Kun Khalifat, which survived its first season as a top flight team.

 

 About Ojeikere Aikhoje

Aikhoje is a researcher, writer, consultant and speaker with over twenty years’ experience working across sports brands with specialization in sponsorship, brand activation, fan engagement, match day experience and sports geography.

He is founder of MatchRoom Football Business Institute.