Third International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies

Abstract

The popularity of foreign football leagues is soaring in Africa. Nigerian youth are following these leagues with a high sense of dedication and devotion. The paper examines the factors behind the growing popularity of foreign football league in Nigeria and its socio-economic implications on the country. Primary data were largely used for the study and collected through the use of questionnaire and interview. The data collected were analysed with the use of descriptive and qualitative methods of analysis. The findings indicate that the reasons why foreign league is popular in Nigeria is because of the quality of the Nigerian national league is poor, the matches are not usually televised, and corruption/match fixing is common. The overwhelming popularity of foreign leagues have created friendships and acquaintances between supporters of the same club and increased the knowledge and awareness of youth about the economics and politics of international sports. However, it has also brewed rivalry between supporters of clubs, drugs are sold in viewing centres and sometimes the centers serves as meeting points criminals. The economic effects were identified as small entrepreneurs establish commercial viewing centres and they employ other supporting staff to operate. There is the urgent need to reform our national league to an acceptable standard and improve the quality of the team, the facilities, and media coverage of the matches. This might make Nigerians channel some of the love for foreign leagues to the local leagues.