The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season will now begin on January 8, 2023, instead of December 28, as had been originally planned.
The league has been stagnant for years due to poor management and limited funding. The Interim Management Committee (IMC) was founded to rebrand the league. The IMC has been meeting with key stakeholders to explore how to improve the league.
After yet another meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, the IMC officially decided that the 2022/2023 NPFL Season drawings will take place on December 28 and the League will begin play on January 8, 2023.
The IMC also came to the conclusion that N10 million in takeoff subsidies will be distributed to each of the 20 teams competing in the NPFL season of 2022–2023.
In addition, the IMC and the clubs decided to use an abbreviated league format rather than the customary full season one that has been employed over the years.
Read Also: 2023: Peter Obi surrounded by failures, dine with ineffective governors – APC chieftain, Ogenyi
It was learned that following the discussion, all parties concurred on the revised league start date and are now excitedly anticipating the draw on December 28, 2022.
It will also be recalled that Rivers United won 23 games, drew 8 games, and lost 7 games out of their 38 league contests to win the 2021–22 season with 10 points over Plateau United, their nearest competitors. The league concluded in July.
All but Rivers United, however, were eliminated from the CAF Inter-clubs competitions in the early rounds, making it another another sad experience for Nigeria’s representatives on the continent.
In the Champions League, Plateau United was one of the other three teams, and in the Confederation Cup, Remo Stars and Kwara United were.