The Introduction of the Higher Institution Football League (HIFL) into the Nigeria football development architecture is a commendable milestone in the football development because it will serves as link between educational system, amateur football and professional league. The HIFL, a partnership between the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA), NFF and other stake holders is a response to the call by the Nigeria government for greater private sector involvement in sports.
The inability of Nigeria to align its sports development architecture along the educational structure by positioning NUGA as the pivot upon which Nigeria sports industry is build remains the missing link to jump start a viable sports industry. Therefore, the HIFL league amongst the top universities will help NUGA play a similar role which the NCAA plays in the United States sports.
It is hoped that NUGA and the HIFL will enjoy the kind of supports from the private sector and advertisers in Nigeria when compared with the support the NCAA receives in the US that made her report a revenue of more than $1 billion in 2017. The NCAA had close to $1.1 billion in annual revenue during its 2017 fiscal year
The HIFL, the Biggest Higher Institution Games Kick-start In July after months of anticipation. The inaugural Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL), the largest Collegiate Football competition in Nigeria is the first of its kind varsity league games in conjunction with National University Games Association (NUGA) will see campus football stars slug it out in a return-leg elimination league format after which the final four teams will fight for bragging rights and school pride at the Final Four scheduled for the 3rd of November at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
The 16 participating schools for the 2018 season have been grouped into two conferences; Coastal Conference (Southern region) and Sahel conference (Northern region) which are structured along Nigeria’s regional lines. Amongst the participating schools include University of Lagos, University of Ife, University of port Harcourt, UNN, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Jos and University of Benin. The HiFL league will feature 30 games and run for about 14 weeks. The teams in each conference will play the games in a return leg style elimination games, after which the final four teams will slug it out for the HiFL Champions Trophy at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
The Champion is to represent Nigeria in Naples Itally at the 2019 International University Sports Federation (FISU) Summer Universiade games in Naples, Italy. As part of preparations towards the kick off of the games, at an event to be held at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos on Friday, 20th July,2018, the HiFL 2018 season Draws will hold, Team jerseys will also be unveiled during
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