Senator Shehu Sani has taken Nigerians on a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminding football lovers of a time when the nation’s local league commanded the kind of passion now reserved for European giants.
In a post on his X account, Sani wrote: “Not Man U, not PSG, not Real Madrid, not Barcelona, not Arsenal or Chelsea… Enugu Rangers vs Bendel Insurance 1978… A crowd-filled stadium. Nigerians in love with their local league.”
The remark drew attention to the golden age of Nigerian football, when clubs like Enugu Rangers, Shooting Stars, and Bendel Insurance were household names, and stadiums brimmed with fans who celebrated homegrown talent with unrivaled passion.
His throwback comes at a time when many lament the decline in support for the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), overshadowed by the dominance of Europe’s elite clubs.
For many, the Senator’s words reignited memories of the thunderous roars of packed arenas, where local heroes inspired a generation long before satellite television brought the Premier League and La Liga into Nigerian living rooms.
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