Nigeria okays $2 million Covid-19 relief for clubs, leagues

Nigeria's Football Federation (NFF) said on Tuesday it would disburse $2 million to clubs and leagues to cushion the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

"After consultations with the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Board endorsed the proposal from the secretariat for the lump sum of $2 million only to be shared across the various football clubs and governing bodies of the various Leagues," NFF said in a statement here.

The relief fund was made up of $1 million from Fifa's support for restarting the football season; $500 0000 from Fifa's grant for women's football; $300 000 of CAF support to member associations and $200 000 from sponsors of the Nigerian FA.

The beneficiary leagues are the Nigeria Professional Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women's Football League and the Nigeria Nationwide League.

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Football has yet to resume in a bid to curtail the spread of the disease which has infected nearly 47 000 and killed almost 1 000 people in the country.

The new football season is tentatively scheduled to start by October.