Teams from the English Premier League dominates the top six European football clubs that Nigerians are so crazy about.
- The European football league has been another way football-loving Nigerians show support to their favourite teams while enjoying the game.
- Football-loving Nigerians not only support their favourite teams in the leagues but also go ahead to buy jerseys and other fan gears.
Aside the world football tournaments and occasional friendly matches played by the Super Eagles, the European football league has been another source of footballing activities for Nigerians.
Nigerians are so crazy about football and this has been confirmed by the FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The English Premiership and La Liga have been source of entertainment for football loving Nigerians, who not only support their favourite teams in the leagues but also go ahead to buy jerseys and other fan gears.
Teams from the English Premier League dominates the top six European football clubs that Nigerians are so crazy about.
Players on these teams are idolised by many football lovers while head coaches and managers are revered for their brilliance and capabilities.
Scroll down to see the 6 European football clubs Nigerians are crazy about:
Chelsea FC
Founded in 1905 in London, England, Chelsea FC seems to be the European football club with the highest number of fan base in Nigeria. From artisans to students and corporate execs, Chelsea FC’s fan base cuts across all gender. Top Nigerian celebs are also fans of this club. According to a study, which uses the clubs’ facebook followers and likes in Nigeria as a point of reference, Chelsea has a followership of between 1.5 million and 2 million supporters. The blue Nigerian fan is the original Chelsea fan.
Head coach: Antonio Conte
Most popular player: Victor Moses
Club’s worth: $524.3 million
Manchester United
Coming on the heels of Chelsea Football club with strong supporters is the Old Trafford based football club, Manchester United. Founded in 1878, this football club has such dedicated followership that will awe the team’s management. With a fan base of between 1 million and 1.5 million, fans in Nigeria dedicate their time, energy and cash to support the team. At the mention of the red devils, the supporters are quick to stay glued to a TV set.
Head coach: Jose Mourinho
Most popular player: Romelu Lukaku
Club’s worth: $827.9 million
Real Madrid
Real Madrid comes third on the list but first in La Liga with a solid followership across cities in Nigeria. With a fan base of between 900K and 1 million, fans of this club. The football club is not only loved by football fans but adored by its staunch supporters in Nigeria. The club was founded in March 1902 and has been known for its white kits since inception.
Head coach: Zinedine Zidane
Most popular player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Club’s worth: $825.9 million
Arsenal FC
The Arsenal football club of England was founded in Highbury, London, United Kingdom in 1886 and has become one of most supported football clubs in Nigeria. For the fans of Arsenal in Nigeria, the joy and pain comes with the game and supporting the team gives nothing but joy. Referring to themselves as the gunners, the support for the team rose immensely when retired Olympian, Kanu Nwankwo joined the team and played for over 5 seasons winning several trophies with the club. So much was the love for this football club that one of its greatest players, Thiery Henry was nicknamed the Igwe of goals (King of goals). Supporters are between 900K and 1million.
Head coach: Arsene Wenger
Most popular player: Alex Iwobi
Club’s worth: $597.1 million
Barcelona
Barcelona has been handed over a followership of between 700K and 800K in Nigeria. The followership is so strong that some of the players are been idolised by their crazy fans in Nigeria. Founded in 1899, Barca is famous and loved in Nigeria for its victories at Camp Nou.
Head coach: Ernesto Valverde
Most popular player: Lionel Messi
Club’s worth: $793.2 million
Liverpool
The club with least followership according to likes and membership on Facebook is Liverpool FC with 55,570. The Liverpool FC is an English football club founded in 1892 by John Houlding in Anfield, Liverpool area of London. Fans have continued to support the team in Nigeria much after its last victory at the FA cup in 2012.