The Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the league has scheduled the weekend of August 26-27 as the kick-off date of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) for the 2023/24 football season.
The 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League season has been scheduled to kick the weekend of August 26-27, 2023.
Meanwhile, the transfer window opens July 1.#NPFL24 pic.twitter.com/34pFZJxtBy
— NPFL News 🇳🇬 (@NPFL_News) June 29, 2023
The 2022/23 Nigeria Premier League season adopted an abridged format due to time constraints caused by the delay in the resumption of the league due to the dissolution of the League Management Committee (LMC) in September 2022.
The shortened league system enabled the IMC to complete the season on time successfully and helped bridge the calendar gap to tally with the rest of the big leagues in Africa and Europe.
The abridged season saw Enyimba FC clinch their ninth title on superior goal-difference in the Championship playoffs that took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos earlier in June.
However, the Nigeria Premier League will return to its usual format of 38 matchdays and also with its actual name for the 2023/24 season.
A new logo and a new name, the Nigerian league would now be referred to as the Nigerian Premier League as from the 2023/24 season. pic.twitter.com/vJYUqIkI3w
— NPFL News 🇳🇬 (@NPFL_News) June 4, 2023
On that note, the IMC has directed that clubs begin the club licensing process.
Club Licensing
Club licensing is a necessary procedure for participation in the Nigeria Premier League, and also in CAF competitions. Failure to complete the process means that a club won't be registered to participate in the coming league season.
As contained in a memo by the IMC head of operations, Davidson Owumi, on Thursday in Abuja, the committee informed the clubs to contact the NFF licensing managers, Nasiru Jibril and Queen Otarakpo, for further information on the club licensing procedure.
Davidson Owumi said, “Clubs that qualified for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) club competitions have been invited to start their procedures with the NFF in line with CAF Club Licensing Regulations 2022.”
The league organisers advised all participating clubs to take advantage of early completion of the process. They also warned that only clubs that had been licensed would be registered for the new season.
Enyimba Football Club of Aba and Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne would represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League. Meanwhile Rivers United of Port Harcourt and Bendel Insurance of Benin will play in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Furthermore, in another communication from the IMC, the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) transfer window will open on Saturday, July 1 and close on September 1, 2023.
By this, players and coaches will be moving from one club to another for greener pastures and new challenges.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
