2023/24 NPFL Kickoff date postponed for two weeks

Posted : 16 August 2023

The Management of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have announced the postponement of the 2023/24 season by extension of two weeks

NPFL also said that the 2023/2024 NPFL's draw would be held on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023 in Lagos.

According to NPFL the draw will have all the 20 clubs in the nation's top division, including the returning trio of Kano Pillars, Katsina United, Heartland FC of Owerri and first timer, Sporting Lagos FC go into the draw after the stakeholders agreed to have a single format of 38 fixtures.

The newly inaugurated NPFL Board headed by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, with Davison Owumi as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chairmen of the 20 NPFL clubs at a meeting last week agreed to revert to the single format, rather than have for the second season running, an abridged league.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) then approved the decision of the NPFL critical stakeholders and that paved the way for Monday's announcement that the draw for the entire season would be conducted on Thursday.

The last season's league has, an abridged format which was adopted by the NFF and Interim Management Committee (IMC), in consultation with clubs in the elite division, largely due to time constraint and the need to synchronize the nation's flight with the August - May European calendar.

Followers of the game were delighted that the League was able to bring back Supersport, doled out a whopping sum of N100 million as prize money to the Champions, Enyimba of Aba after a hugely successful Super Six that showcased the best attributes of the league to the world, via cable satellite television.

However, the NPFL Board has confirmed the postponement of the kickoff date of the season, earlier scheduled on August 27th by two weeks.

The reason for this shift in date was sketchy but it seems to have been well received by the clubs and other main parties, and the season will now get underway on September 8th.

Aside Enyimba of Aba that won the title for a record extending ninth time, Remo Stars of Ikenne finished in 2nd spot, one spot better than the previous season and will together with the Aba Peoples' Elephant represent Nigeria in next season's CAF Champions League.

Dethroned Champions, Rivers United finished in 3rd spot and would have to recline to CAF's second tier league, along with Bendel Insurance of Benin, who won the NFF Tingo Federation Cup to punch their ticket as the nation's number one entrant for the Confederation Cup.

2023/24 NPFL Kickoff date postponed for two weeks

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