The push to give Nigerian football greater television exposure has encountered another uncomfortable setback, with Sunday’s meeting between Rivers United and Rangers International raising fresh questions about the league’s broadcast arrangements.
While the two title contenders battled for points in Port Harcourt, the production team responsible for bringing the encounter to football fans beyond the stadium was facing a different challenge.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but the absence of the planned MBI Sport coverage has since drawn attention to an administrative dispute that could have wider implications for the Nigerian Premier Football League’s efforts to improve its visibility and commercial appeal.
Murphy Ben International (MBI), the company behind MBI Sport, has now issued an official statement explaining why its production crew was unable to cover the fixture, pointing to circumstances surrounding the club’s refusal to grant the team access to the stadium.
MBI explains absence from Rivers United-Rangers coverage
In a public statement released on Sunday, November 1, Murphy Ben International apologised to football supporters who had anticipated watching the meeting between Rivers United and defending champions Rangers through its coverage.
The company said its production crew had been unable to carry out the scheduled broadcast because it was not granted the necessary access to the venue.
“Murphy Ben International wishes to inform the public, football fans, and supporters of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) that our production crew was unable to cover the scheduled match involving Rivers United and Rangers due to circumstances surrounding the club’s refusal to grant our crew access to carry out its coverage,” the statement read.
MBI explained that it had been prepared to deliver the planned production but could not proceed without access to the stadium.
The company also expressed regret over the disappointment caused to supporters who had looked forward to following the encounter through MBI Sport.
“We sincerely regret the disappointment this may cause our viewers and supporters who were looking forward to watching the match through MBI Sport,” it added.
Broadcast dispute raises questions about NPFL standards
The incident has prompted criticism from football followers, particularly over the implications of a production crew being unable to access a stadium for a league fixture.
Reacting to the development, one football commentator questioned how the NPFL could expect to grow and compete with other leagues when basic professional standards were not being upheld.
Although the match itself produced an entertaining contest between two of the division’s leading sides, the controversy has shifted attention towards the practical arrangements required to deliver consistent television coverage of the competition.
The NPFL has been seeking greater visibility for its matches, with broadcast production playing an important role in attracting supporters, increasing the league’s reach and improving its appeal to potential commercial partners.
Situations in which scheduled production crews cannot gain access to venues risk undermining those ambitions, particularly when the competition is attempting to strengthen its broadcasting infrastructure.
MBI, however, maintained that it remained committed to promoting Nigerian football and expanding access to the league.
“We remain committed to promoting the NPFL, expanding access to Nigerian football, and delivering quality coverage to fans,” the company stated, adding that it would continue engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure supporters were not deprived of opportunities to follow their teams.
READ MORE: Rangers end Rivers United’s remarkable home run in NPFL summit clash
Away from the broadcast controversy, the encounter itself ended with both teams taking a point in a result that kept them level on 18 points at the top of the NPFL standings.
Rivers United took the lead in the 18th minute through Chijioke Mbaoma before Rangers restored parity through Godwin Obaje nine minutes into the second half.
The visitors subsequently suffered a setback when Obaje was shown a straight red card in the 71st minute, forcing Rangers to negotiate the closing stages with 10 players.
However, the defending champions held on to secure a valuable away point and return to Enugu with their position among the leading teams intact.
Rivers United retained first place on goal difference, while Rangers remained second with two outstanding matches.
Questions remain over access and accountability
The immediate controversy now raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the reported refusal of access and the responsibilities of clubs towards the league’s broadcast arrangements.
While MBI has publicly explained its position, Rivers United’s response to the allegation is necessary to establish the club’s account of what happened and whether there were other circumstances surrounding the production team’s inability to enter the venue.
The incident also places renewed focus on the relationship between the NPFL, participating clubs and the organizations responsible for delivering its broadcast coverage.
For a competition seeking to attract a wider audience and improve its commercial standing, ensuring that agreed production arrangements are respected will be an important part of building a more professional league environment.
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MBI has reiterated its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders, but Sunday’s incident in Port Harcourt has left an uncomfortable question hanging over the competition: how can the NPFL successfully market its product when the people tasked with bringing its matches to viewers cannot gain access to the stadium?
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