LALIGA Open to Reviving Grassroots Partnership with NPFL – Desmond Chiji

Desmond Chiji, LALIGA’s Delegate Global Network and Country Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, says the Spanish league is open to reviving its grassroots development partnership with the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Chiji made this known while speaking on Inside Naija Sports, where he discussed LALIGA’s activities in Nigeria, grassroots football development and opportunities for young Nigerian players.

The previous LALIGA-NPFL Under-15 project was established under a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations, with the agreement also covering grassroots development and coaching formation.

According to Chiji, the agreement eventually ran its course and was not renewed, bringing the Under-15 initiative to an end.

“The MOU ran its course and it was never renewed. We didn’t come to continue it, and that was where that ended,” Chiji said.

However, Chiji stressed that LALIGA remains interested in grassroots football development in Nigeria and is willing to reopen discussions on reviving the initiative.

“We are always open to coming back to the table to see how we can bring it back to life,” he said.

While the former NPFL partnership is no longer active, Chiji said LALIGA has continued to support grassroots football in Nigeria through other initiatives.

He cited the 2026 LALIGA and EA SPORTS FC Next Gen Draft held in Lagos, which attracted more than 168 young players between the ages of 13 and 15.

Eight Nigerian players — four boys and four girls — were eventually selected to travel to Spain for the international stage of the programme.

The selected players joined youngsters from countries including Morocco, Mexico, China and Japan for training, educational activities and competitions within the LALIGA ecosystem.

Chiji also called on Nigerian authorities and football stakeholders to engage international organisations in developing sustainable grassroots programmes.

He stressed that football development should not focus solely on producing professional players but should also equip young people with education and alternative skills.

“We don’t want the players to only know how to play football. What if they don’t make it as football players? What do they fall back on?” he asked.

According to Chiji, combining football development with education would give young players alternative career pathways while preparing them for opportunities in professional football.

He added that LALIGA remains willing to work with Nigerian organisations and companies whose objectives align with its grassroots and community-development programmes.

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