₦500m betPawa deal introduces historic “Locker Room Bonus” for NNL players

By Dayo Awoniyi

The Nigeria National League (NNL) has signed a landmark one-year sponsorship agreement with African sports betting and gaming giant betPawa, valued at over ₦500 million.

The deal, unveiled on Tuesday, introduces a first-of-its-kind “Locker Room Bonus”, a system designed to pay players directly for every victory.

Under the arrangement, each player on a winning team will instantly receive ₦56,000 via mobile money, facilitated by an automated digital platform that tracks and verifies match line-ups.

In addition to direct player benefits, the league itself will earn ₦400,000 per match each weekend, creating a dual incentive for both clubs and athletes.

Explaining the concept, Borah Omary Ndanyungu, Head of Local Marketing & CSR at betPawa, said: “We’re not just handing out cash; we’re building a system that lifts Nigerian football to the next level.

“This platform gives players the respect they deserve for every hard-fought victory — no delays, no drama.”

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, lauded the initiative, describing it as a major step toward improving domestic football.

“One of my major concerns has been how to keep our best players in the league. This is the way forward, and it will reflect positively on the growth of the game in Nigeria.”

NNL Chairman, George Aluo, echoed the sentiment, commending the NFF leadership for prioritising grassroots development and further noted that NNL clubs have steadily gained promotion to the NPFL in recent years, a trend that the new deal could accelerate.

Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, hailed the partnership as a morale booster:

“This will ginger players to give their best and will have a ricocheting effect on the league and the overall development of the game.”

Beyond the NNL, betPawa emphasised that the agreement reflects its broader commitment to African sports, combining innovative sponsorship models with impactful CSR projects to professionalise the game across the continent.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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