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The news is not that the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has revamped the prize money for Club World Cup to £97 million, but that no Nigerian club will participate in the tournament.
The expanded 32-team tournament is billed to hold in the United States of America (USA) from June 14 to July 13, 2025.
While African countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and South Africa will be flying their flags at the tournament, Nigerian football lovers can only watch from the screen as no Nigerian team regrettably made it to the tournament.
Al Ahly of Egypt, Esperance of Tunisia, Wydad AC of Morocco and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa will be setting the stage for thrilling encounters as they aim to make history on the global stage.
Favourites, Manchester City and Chelsea stand to earn up to £97million if they win this summer’s revamped Club World Cup come July 13.
The overall prize pot, shared between all 32 teams based on different factors, has hit €1billion for the tournament.
There are four teams in each group of the eight groups with clubs such as PSG, France; Atletico de Madrid, Spain; Botafogo of Brazil; and Seattle Sounders, USA; Bayern Munichen, Germany; Auckland City, Newzealand; Boca Juniors of Argentina; and Benfica FC, Portugal.
Others include, SE Palmeiras of Brazil; FC Porto of Portugal; Inter Miami CF, USA; Real Madrid, Spain; and Juventus, Italy; among others.
FIFA have worked alongside the European Club Association to build a framework for the prize money, with just over £400m pledged for ‘participation’, which takes in commercial power and is finalised on a sliding scale.
Another £368m has been set aside for a club’s performance over the tournament, for win bonuses and progression through the knockout rounds.
Enyimba International of Aba, the only Nigerian club to have won the CAF Champions League missed out of qualification of this globally coveted tournament.
The People’s Elephant as they are popularly called lost out of the Champions League after they were beaten 3-0 by Zamalek.
Over the years, Nigerian club sides have been seen struggling at the continental level due to numerous factors such as poor organisation of the local league, inconsistent player contracts, and unprofessional management approach to football club administration.
Mozez Praiz, Supersport sportscaster speaking at BusinessDay Sports Conference emphasised the need for Nigerian clubs to embrace professionalism in football club management.
“Until we fix the disconnect between the club managers and the fans, we will continue to struggle. Club managers should take seriously how they brand their persons,” he said.
He said that it is the lack of understanding of the business of sports that makes Nigerian football owners, especially the politicians appoint anyone that pleases them as a club chairman.
Football club management in Nigeria is unfortunately politicalize as against professionalism. Most of the club administrators do not have the needed vision to grow the clubs.
“Sporting ecosystem in Nigeria is massively underdeveloped due lack of infrastructure, inadequate funding, and poor management, among others,” he said.
It is unfortunate that Nigerian football clubs out of poor management approach and lack sports business skills have failed to measure up to the global standard and are out of the FIFA largesse for the Club World Cup.
Enyimba FC, in particular, has been swimming in the murky waters of poor management, adequate funding and lack of vision are not flying Nigeria’s flag in the USA during this summer’s tournament.
Worse still the People’s Elephant would have beside winning the £97 million project their brand globally. When will Nigeria football clubs get it right again? Your answer is as good as mine.
