Top 5 Richest Football Clubs in Nigeria

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Owning a football club is a large, expensive task that must be completed gradually.

In Nigeria, about 80% of football clubs are owned by state governments and fully funded by the government.

Several privately owned clubs have come and gone, heavily affected by the demanding financial nature of running a club football organization.

However, there has been a steady increase in private clubs lately but their financial state is not publicly stated.

Irrespective, NaijNaira tries to rank the richest football clubs in Nigeria.

Top 5 Richest Football Clubs in Nigeria

Remo Stars

• Founded: 2010
• Owner: Kunle Soname

Remo Stars started as a grass-roots football club, mainly as a platform for developmental and recreational activity for the youths of the Ketu area of Lagos State, Nigeria, in 2004. It was created by Founder and President, Mr. Kunle Soname.

However, it wasn’t until 2011 that it metamorphosed into Remo Stars. They have grown from a small community academy to one of the few truly professional clubs in the country.

Asides from the personal wealth of the owner, Remo Stars have managed to become self-sufficient, not only selling players to other NPFL clubs but also abroad.

They also have their own 5,000-seat stadium, which was recently built from scratch and is located inside a sports complex in Ikenne.

Players are not owed and the club has become attractive, getting more revenues from jersey sales and match day tickets.

Vandrezzer

• Founded:  2019
• Owner: Joe Udofia

Vandrezzer FC is another private football club in the country that has enjoyed popularity for how it is run. Founded in 2019, three years later, the club has risen in popularity for its branding, publicity, and use of media in its seasonal activities.

This club is one of the minute numbers of clubs that use a proper TV broadcast for its games every time.

Vandrezzer football club has its own media team, down to the commentator and cameraman.

They don’t really have a private stadium they own but they have shifted grounds a couple of times in the last three years.

They were first based at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo before moving to Lagos, where they played at the Agege Stadium, and recent reports indicate that their subsequent seasons will be at the newly-completed Eket Stadium in Akwa Ibom state.

Vandrezzer, unlike Remo Stars, has not enjoyed the sales of players abroad, but one or two deals have been struck with foreign sides and more are expected to come. Beyond that, they are definitely one of the wealthiest clubs in the country, even if the estimation is unknown yet.

Enyimba FC

• Founded: 1976
• Owner: Abia State Government

Enyimba has enjoyed tremendous government support for a long time and has been a key backbone of its sustainability and success story.

Nigeria’s most successful club side also translates that to success on the continent which has made relationships with foreign clubs easier.

They have their personal stadium which was recently renovated making it world standard. Enyimba has also enjoyed player sales and although it goes into government coffers, they remain a rich club in the country.

Akwa United

• Founded: 1996
• Owner: Akwa State Government

The Akwa Ibom state is one the richest in the country and one of the underliners of this claim is the world-class Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo.

A modern sports facility that stands out is the home ground of Akwa United and they have not for once been linked with non-payment of players’ salaries and bonuses.

Their Wealth is dependent on how much the state government budgets for them but even at that they remain well funded.

Rivers United

• Founded: 2016
• Owner: Rivers State Government

Rivers State government was running two clubs, Dolphins and Sharks FC before deciding to merge both together due to the financial stress of running two clubs at once.

Rivers United enjoys the leverage and has become one of the best clubs in the country within six years winning their first trophy.

Honorable mentions among the richest football clubs in Nigeria include FC Ebedei and Kano Pillars.