Across Nigeria, the once-thriving football viewing centres that turned ordinary nights into communal celebrations are steadily fading into silence due to rising fuel prices, costly pay-TV subscriptions, and the growing shift to mobile streaming eroding patronage, AYOOLA OLASUPO reports
Ten years ago, Jide Ojo’s football viewing centre was a lively hub where football lovers gathered to watch their favourite teams battle on the pitch, but today, the story is different.
Inside his viewing centre in Ibafo, Ogun State, wooden benches were neatly arranged in rows before three television screens mounted on a wall. They stand as silent reminders of a time when finding a seat at Ojo’s football viewing centre was nearly impossible.
On match days, football lovers would arrive long before kick-off, eager to secure a spot among fellow fans. The atmosphere was usually electric, as fans bantered with one another over which team was the best.
Oftentimes, cheers would erupt with every goal scored, and arguments broke out over controversial referee decisions. Then, it was a moment when strangers became friends, united by their love for the game.
