There is something poetic about English football when it catches fire. An island nation sometimes mocked for rain, cold nights, overhyped football, loud fans, and impossible expectations has once again marched across Europe and planted its flag everywhere.
Champions League final? England is there. Europa League final? England is there. Conference League final England is there too. Arsenal have fought their way into the final of the UEFA Champions League. Crystal Palace have powered into the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League after dismantling Shakhtar Donetsk 5-2 on aggregate. And Aston Villa have stormed into the final of the UEFA Europa League after seeing off Nottingham Forest 4-1 on aggregate. What an island.
“Two world wars and one World Cup,” the chant goes. But perhaps another line should now be added: Three European finals. One league. One football culture. This is not coincidence. It is not luck.
It is structure. It is investment.
It is football culture elevated into an industry.
The Premier League today is not merely England’s league. It is football’s global theatre. Every weekend feels like war. The difference between first and tenth is razor-thin. A team fighting relegation can destroy a title contender on a bad day. Mid-table clubs spend like giants. Coaches are tactical obsessives. Stadiums are full. Television production is elite. Refereeing is scrutinised to microscopic levels. Fans demand excellence every single week.
That pressure cooker produces hardened football teams. This is why English clubs arrive in Europe already battle-tested. In some leagues across Europe, two or three clubs dominate permanently. The title race is often predictable before the season even starts. But in England, survival itself requires quality. To finish in the top four is warfare. To qualify for Europe is combat.
And so, when these clubs step onto European soil, they carry intensity others struggle to match. Look at the names: Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United FC, Aston Villa and Arsenal.
Even clubs outside the so-called “Big Six” now possess world-class facilities, ambitious ownership, elite scouting systems, and tactical sophistication. That depth is what separates England.
And honestly, as a Nigerian football lover, one cannot help but admire it. But admiration alone is not enough. It should also inspire us. Because somewhere inside this English football success story are lessons for the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The NPFL has passion.
Nigeria has talent.
Our streets produce footballers naturally.
Our fans are emotional, loyal, and deeply invested in football. But passion without structure cannot compete globally. We need better stadiums. Better officiating. Better television production. Better club administration. Better youth development. Better security for fans. Better sponsorship structures. And most importantly, consistency.
The Premier League did not become this powerful overnight. It was built deliberately over decades through organisation, branding, infrastructure, media partnerships, and relentless improvement.
The NPFL can rise too. Imagine Nigerian clubs becoming feared in Africa again.
Imagine full stadiums every weekend. Imagine Bendel Insurance, Enyimba, Rangers, Shooting Stars, Kano Pillars, and Remo Stars becoming continental powerhouses consistently. Imagine Nigerian coaches and administrators building systems admired across Africa. It is possible.
But it requires vision beyond slogans. English football teaches one important lesson: football excellence is not accidental. It is organised. Today, Europe belongs largely to England again. And from my window, one can only admire the machine they have built — a relentless football ecosystem where quality is produced almost industrially.
What an island indeed. But perhaps one day, if we get serious enough, disciplined enough, and visionary enough, Nigerian football too can rise beyond potential and become a force the continent admires. That is the prayer.
— Chris Osa Nehikhare
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