The Federal Capital Territory is sitting on what many described as a football goldmine that is still largely untapped. That was the central message on Nigeria Info 95.1 Abuja, where a football economy expert, Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCTFA) Chairman Adam Mohammed Mouktar, and alongside, other stakeholders, examined what Abuja could become if investment, administration, and government priorities were properly aligned.
The analyst described football as a “famous and powerful economy,” noting how countries compete intensely for major football events because of their financial value. However, he stressed that Nigeria is still far from maximizing its own potential. Despite the opportunities available, the country remains stuck at a surface level of football economics.
He argued that attention is still overly concentrated on player transfers. “We just look at player transfer, that’s it. But we don’t look at the bigger picture,” he said referring to broadcasting rights, sponsorship, infrastructure, coaching systems, and fan-driven revenue models that define modern football economies.
Mouktar explained that, Abuja is strategically positioned. As Nigeria’s capital, it has population strength, financial activity, and strong interest in sports.
“Everyone wants a place where they can train. They want a place where they can take their children to,” he noted.
However, the supporting infrastructure is still inadequate. Unlike cities with deep-rooted football identities and historic club systems, the FCT is still building its football culture. Still, he acknowledged the rise of privately owned clubs in the Nigerian Premier Football League as a positive shift.
“Those that are managing it have their eye on the ball,” he said, pointing to improvements in professionalism and player welfare.
To underscore the scale of Nigeria’s football economy deficit, FCTFA Chairman Adam Mohammed Mouktar turned to global comparisons, painting a stark picture of just how far the country lags behind the world’s top football markets.
Barcelona earned around €53 million as La Liga winners, while Burnley, despite relegation from the Premier League, earned about €117 million due to the league’s commercial structure.
At the top end, Real Madrid stands out with a valuation of about €6 billion and annual revenues exceeding €1 billion, driven by sponsorships, broadcasting, and consistent European competition success.
“Their revenues are the largest and their valuation too is the biggest,” he said, attributing it to strong marketing and sponsorship systems.
In Nigeria, however, financial data is poorly documented. Gate receipts are rarely tracked properly, and clubs often rely heavily on government funding.
“We don’t even see transfers as a key stream because they’re government funded,” he added.
He also raised concerns about football literacy in the country. Many people, he noted, misunderstand how professional football works as an industry. Fans often make bold claims without access to professional standards, but administrators and club owners cannot afford that gap in knowledge.
He referenced how modern clubs like Arsenal now prioritize executives focused on long-term growth rather than just player recruitment.
“He’s looking at how does he grow the club,” he said, noting how such strategic thinking has increased club value.
When asked about investment opportunities in the FCT, his response was clear: infrastructure.
Mouktar described football infrastructure as a potential economic driver comparable to oil in Nigeria’s broader economy.
“The next big thing which could be like an oil boom could be infrastructural development when it comes to football in the FCT, because the money is there.”
He pointed to Morocco as an example, where long-term planning has transformed the country into a global sports destination.
“It’s a national renaissance,” he said, emphasizing that Morocco’s success came from coordinated national investment beyond just sports ministries.
The discussion also touched on leadership within the FCT. While acknowledging that FCTFA Chairman Adam Mohammed Mouktar and the FCT Minister have shown interest in sports development, he noted that visible structural transformation is still limited.
He stressed that meaningful change requires intentional action. “Everything you see happen in any place is a deliberate action.”
The FCT’s football economy remains underdeveloped due to weak data systems, dependence on government funding, poor commercialization structures, and limited understanding of modern football economics.
Yet the blueprint exists globally, from Real Madrid’s commercial model to Morocco’s infrastructure-driven sports strategy. What is missing in Abuja is not potential, but execution, structure, and data-driven leadership. The numbers don’t lie, and they lead to any success in a company. The numbers come first.
