West Ham signs up first African partner

English Premier League football club West Ham United has entered into a long-term partnership with the Nigeria-based Capital Oil and Gas company.

The partnership is West Ham’s first with an African company and will see the club team up with FC Ifeanyi Ubah, a Nigerian Professional Football League club in which Capital Oil and Gas is the principal investor.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah becomes West Ham’s official Nigerian football club partner and the two parties will collaborate on a range of coaching and grassroots initiatives.

Capital Oil and Gas will also be granted a range of rights to promote its business through West Ham, and will receive hospitality packages at London Stadium, the club’s new home ground.

“This ground-breaking partnership serves to further emphasise our growing international profile, bringing the famous West Ham United name to Africa for the first time in a partnership context,” West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady said.

“The popularity of Premier League football in West Africa has been well documented and it is testament to the club’s success, on and off the pitch, that we are now considered one of the most high-profile and attractive clubs in the region.”