Nigerian Universities Compared With Football Clubs

In a country where the third largest religion is soccer, Nigerian youths can see football in everything.

Nigerians’ love for football is so much that university communities are not left out of the soccer fever in the country.

Soccer is a national sport, that gets Nigerians attentions. From local leagues to European football leagues, there are fans everywhere.

If Nigerian universities have football academies, the soccer department would probably be oversubscribed because of our seemingly national passion for the round leather game.

Interestingly, Nigeria Universities are not offering soccer related courses but some of these institutions share similar behaviours or characteristics with some European football houses.

Pulse compares your favourite Universities with European Football Clubs and here are the results of the comparison.

1. UNILAG vs Manchester United FC

The University of Lagos in terms of characteristics and history share some similarities with the Red Devils.

Just like Manchester United FC, UNILAG has a history with records that no university in Lagos state has been able to match.

As you all know that the Red Devil is the first English Club to win the treble, so is UNILAG the first University to win double – the first to have Radio and TV station. The respect UNILAG commands are much like that of the Red Devil. Even a president could not change its name.

2. Covenant University vs Manchester City FC

Tucked away in the heart of Ogun state, Covenant University from a state of obscurity rose to be one of the best (if not the best) in Nigeria. Even if we all agree that CU is not the topmost university in Nigeria, we can not deny the fact that it is one of the top four institutions. If you disagree, check out the top 10 universities in Nigeria.

The rise and rise of Covenant University among private and government-owned universities in Nigeria is pretty like that of Manchester City FC. The striking similarity between these two institutions is their financial strength. As institutions, both Man City and Covenant University have rich owners.

3. Obafemi Awolowo University Vs Liverpool FC

The common denominator between Obafemi Awolowo University and Liverpool FC is what many people refer to as past glory.

Liverpool and OAU some years ago used to be the best institutions in their different leagues. As an academic institution, OAU is one of the first generation universities that made landmark achievements in the past.

4. University of Ibadan Vs Real Madrid FC

In 2017 The World University Ranking, the University of Ibadan is the only institution that represents Nigeria in the rating. That makes UI the best University in the country, right?

Also, in the Webomatric university ranking in 2018, University of Ibadan tops the list. Doesn’t that make UI the champion back to back?

Because of these achievements, we decide to place the premier institution side by side with Real Madrid because the Los Blancos always prove their worth among European Champions…that is what UI is to Nigerian Universities.

Again, University of Ibadan is the first University in Nigeria, it has produced great scholars and academic giants renowned for their works. From Chinua Achebe to Wole Soyinka to Christopher Okigbo, Elechi Amadi and so on, this institution has a lot of scholars to be proud of.

Same can be said of Real Madrid’s the Galacticos.

5. Lagos State University vs Chelsea FC

One would have thought LASU by virtue of its location-Lagos would have been regarded as Man city rivalling the Red Devil, but LASU and Man City do not have many things in common.

Like Chelsea, LASU has had series of management crisis that led to the sack of Vice Chancellors.

Another interesting fact about these two institutions is that BLUE is the official colour of both Lagos State University and Chelsea Football Club.

Honorary Mention… Arsenal FC

Shout out to Nigerian students who are Arsenal fans. The North London Club could have made this list, but we look around but didn’t see any higher institution that has been overseen and managed by one Vice Chancellor for over 20 years.

But if you think there is any Nigerian university, polytechnic or College of Education that shares some characteristics with Arsenal FC tell us in the comment section. Thank you.

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