The League Management Company (LMC) has revealed that the champions of the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) stand to win N40 million from its Merit Award.
The twp clubs in contention for the the big prize money from a total of N200 milliuon set aside by the LMC as reward for final position on the league table at the end of the season on are Rangers International of Enugu and Rivers United of Port Harcourt.
The previous season, the highest payout from the Merit Award which went to Enyimba International was N30 million from a total pool of N150 million and this year’s figure of N200 million represents an increase of 25%.
The Merit Award pool has been annually progressive from N50m in 2012/2013 to N75m in 2013/2014 season and now N200m.
The top three clubs on the final table usually received a minimum of N90m in all direct payments for the 2016 season including the Basic Award which comprises of a pool of funds shared equally among all the 20 participating clubs, the Merit award paid to the clubs based on their final position on the tanle, the Football development and the Bonus award which is paid to clubs based on performances including incentives for improving match attendance, away wins/draw, fielding players under the age of 18 and hosting live broadcast matches.
Therefore, the lowest team on the league table this season would have received up to N55 million in direct payments from the LMC from all payment centers.
Rangers International of Enugu also known as the Flying Antelopes are three points ahead of their closest contenders, the Rivers United with the Flying Antelopes hosting El-Kanemi Warriors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, fondly called The Cathedral by Enugu fans needing just a point to guarantee the title while Rivers United gun for three points in Uyo against Akwa United.
