By Rasheed Adewuyi, New York
Former Nigeria international and current Dragon FC coach in Benin Republic, Oladuni Oyekale, has opened up on the increasing migration of Nigerian footballers to Benin Republic’s Championnat National, the country’s top-tier league, citing better structure, consistent pay, and superior infrastructure as key reasons behind the trend.
In an exclusive chat with JerseyNumber12, Oyekale explained that the Beninese football system currently offers far more stability and professionalism than what is obtainable in Nigeria’s Premier League (NPFL). He revealed that both players and coaches in Benin enjoy competitive remuneration and regular salaries, a rarity in Nigeria’s domestic league.
“The salaries of players and coaches are very constant in Bénin Republic. For example, an average player receives between 350,000 to 400,000 CFA monthly, while coaches take home between two to five million CFA. If you convert that to Nigerian currency, you’ll see it’s worth fighting for in a foreign land,” Oyekale stated.
As Nigeria continues to search for solutions to revitalize its domestic football scene, Oyekale’s revelations serve as a wake-up call for stakeholders to prioritize infrastructure, transparency, and financial stability — or risk losing even more talent to better-run systems just across the border.
Investigations by JerseyNumber12 show that nearly 3% of players in both the elite and lower divisions of Benin Republic’s league are Nigerian-born. In a recent squad list for the Beninese national team, three players of Nigerian descent; Mohammed Tijani, Junior Olaitan, and Tosin Aiyegun were featured, highlighting the depth of the cross-border influence.
Oyekale, who previously starred for El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, emphasized that the NPFL must urgently revamp its structure to curb the growing “football brain drain.”
Oyekale, who won the Coach of the Month award in his debut season in April 2023/24 and again in the first round of the 2024/25 campaign, also revealed that he regularly engages with top NPFL stakeholders, including Chairman Engineer Gbenga Elegbeleye, to highlight why Nigerian players are moving to Benin Republic.
“Whenever I get the chance to speak with league officials, including the chairman, I don’t hesitate to share the reasons. They always promise to address the issues and improve the league,” Oyekale said.
The NPFL has long struggled under the weight of corruption, inconsistent management, poor funding, and substandard facilities, challenges that continue to push talented players toward more structured environments abroad, including neighboring countries like Benin.