As the 2025-26 English Premier League (EPL) season begins, Nigerian fans are brimming with anticipation and enthusiasm. Kicking off this weekend, the new season promises to deliver thrilling matches and unforgettable moments as supporters rally behind their favourite clubs.
The palpable excitement is not just limited to the games themselves; it’s a celebration of football culture that unites fans across the country, igniting a fervour that’s hard to match.
The fervour surrounding the EPL in Nigeria extends beyond mere fandom; it embodies a shared cultural experience that unites millions, fostering a sense of community and belonging among fans who passionately engage in discussions about tactics, transfers, and team performances.
This season promises to be particularly competitive, as several clubs have made significant investments to bolster their squads.
Top Contenders
Liverpool: The reigning champions are looking to defend their title, having invested heavily in their squad with signings like Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. Arne Slot’s team is expected to dominate the league once again.
Arsenal : Mikel Arteta’s side has bolstered their squad with the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, and Viktor Gyokeres. They’re looking to end their 21-year league trophy drought.
Manchester City : Pep Guardiola’s team has made strategic signings to improve their squad, despite losing key players like Kevin De Bruyne. They’re expected to challenge Liverpool and Arsenal for the top spot.
Chelsea: Overall, Chelsea’s chances in the 2025-26 EPL season look promising, with a strong squad and good odds for a top-four finish. However, they’ll need to maintain consistency and perform well throughout the season to mount a serious title challenge.
Manchester United: Reuben Amorim’s side chances in the 2025-26 EPL season look promising, with the team seeking to bounce back after a disappointing 15th-place finish last season.
Manchester United’s chances will depend on several factors, including their squad depth, team dynamics, and performance in big games. With no European football to contend with, they can focus on the Premier League and potentially cause an upset.
Overall, Manchester United’s chances in the 2025-26 EPL season are difficult to predict, but they seem to have a good shot at securing a top-four finish or, at the very least, European football.
Tottenham: With a new manager, Thomas Frank, and some promising signings, they might be due for positive regression.
Tottenham’s chances in the 2025-26 EPL season depend on their consistency, team dynamics, and key player performances. With some promising signings and a new manager, they might just push for a top-six finish or even higher.
Exciting Fixtures Ahead
Liverpool vs. Bournemouth: The season opener promises to be an electrifying encounter between the defending champions and a hungry Bournemouth side.
Manchester United vs. Arsenal: This match is steeped in history and rivalry, and will immediately test both teams’ credentials for the upcoming season.
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace: Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea will host Crystal Palace, looking to build on their Club World Cup triumph.²
This season, the Premier League has introduced new rules, including semi-automated offsides and live VAR explanations, to improve the game’s officiating.
As the new season gets underway, fans will be glued to their screens, cheering on their favorite teams and players. With top-tier talent on display, the 2025-26 Premier League season promises to be an unforgettable ride.
Nigerian fans, in particular, will be eagerly following the progress of their favorite players and teams, and hoping for a thrilling season of football.
While many Nigerian football fans show unrivaled passion and loyalty to EPL clubs, renown Abuja based FIFA licensed football agent ,Ifeanyi Omonigho Odugo, has opined that while Nigerian fans support for foreign clubs is not a threat to our local league, more needs to be done by the government and football stakeholders to improve the quality of the league.
“Nigerians are passionate football lovers, and their support for foreign clubs is not, in itself, a threat to our local football — after all, the beauty of the game is that it allows fans to commit to more than one team.
“The real challenge lies in what appears to be a lack of deliberate and purposeful support to boost the visibility of our local clubs and league.
To be fair, some of our current leaders are making commendable efforts. For instance, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State have shown strong and consistent support for their state clubs.
“However, despite these positive examples, broader yet surmountable challenges facing our league and local clubs still persist—challenges that can be addressed through greater involvement from our leaders to inspire communities and build followership, attract investment, and elevate the game.
“Almost every challenge in our league — from attendance revenue, youth inspiration, and talent retention to sponsorship and investment growth — comes down to one factor: appealing visibility. Both local and global football lovers can only support what they know and regularly see. If we make our clubs and league visible, exciting, and worth talking about, many other things will naturally fall into place.
“This is where deliberate and consistent support from leaders and celebrities can be transformative. Imagine regular appearances by political, business, and cultural figures at NPFL matches making matchday attendance a trend.
“High-profile endorsements making local football attractive to sponsors and investors, unlocking better facilities, improved player salaries, and stronger marketing.Positive public statements by leaders about Nigerian clubs on TV, social media, and public events, raising national pride and media coverage.Celebrating domestic league heroes, inspiring young players to dream of lifting NPFL trophies before looking abroad — boosting both the competitiveness and entertainment value of our league.
“In conclusion, clubs cannot achieve this alone. There is a need for our leaders to adopt the kind of deliberate strategies used by foreign governments to grow their leagues — as seen in Saudi Arabia’s recent transformation of the Saudi Pro League and China’s earlier push with the Chinese Super League. Government funding, supportive policies, and visible leadership involvement can put Nigerian football on a path where our league is not only respected at home but admired globally.” Odugo said.
