With the 2023–24 Nigeria Premier Football League season gradually reaching its climax, fans have continued to troop out en masse to support their clubs.
Three teams, Enugu Rangers, holders Enyimba and Remo Stars, are battling for the coveted title with four games remaining in the campaign.
Shooting Stars are vying for third place, which will see them qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup next season.
This weekend, all eyes will be on Enugu, where Oriental rivals Rangers and Enyimba will clash in the title decider, with the match to be aired live on Beta Sports Channel 244 on Star Times.
Rangers top the standings with 61 points from 34 games, while Enyimba are two points adrift in second place.
The large turnout of fans at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, last Sunday, where Shooting Stars trounced Abia Warriors 4-0, was a testament to the improved followership in the domestic league.
The ground was packed to capacity, with the home fans contributing to the carnival-like atmosphere.
Surprisingly, even the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Lagos saw a significant influx of Enugu Rangers supporters who travelled to cheer on their team, while Sporting Lagos fans filled their designated stand, creating a vibrant and electrifying atmosphere.
Similarly, the newly refurbished Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu; New Stadium, Jos; Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano; and Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina, have all witnessed large turnouts of fans this season.
“Fans nationwide are finding their voice in a league that belongs to them,” veteran sports analyst Mitchel Obi said.
“From the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina to the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, the beautiful game in Nigeria has become more than a rallying point for the youth populace to mix and show their joy, as well as a fitting opportunity for the governments to showcase the peace and progress of their cities,” he said.
Football fans hit match venues in large numbers for NPFL season finale
