NPFL announces opening fixtures for the 2023-24 season

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has released its schedule for matchday one of the upcoming campaign.

The 2023–24 NPFL season was originally meant to get underway on August 27 but has since been postponed by two weeks.

A draw was held today in Abuja to help determine the fixtures for the upcoming campaign ahead of its commencement on September 9.

The draw, which was scheduled to begin at 17:00 WAT, got delayed and ended up kicking off over an hour later.

NPFL draws result

The 2023/24 NPFL draw will be held in Abuja today.

* 20 clubs.
* 380 matches.

The NPFL season will kick-off on September 9th.

This season will be explosive! pic.twitter.com/rXkFEcFbhq

— Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) August 29, 2023

NPFL champions Enyimba will kick off their title defence with a home encounter against Bendel Insurance, who won the Nigeria Federation Cup and had the best regular-season record on their return to the top flight.

For the second year in a row, Shooting Stars and Plateau United will lock horns in the opening round of games following a thrilling 3-3 draw between the teams in their 2022–23 curtain-raiser.

Having narrowly missed out on a place in the Championship Round last time out, Akwa United will be hoping to enjoy better luck this time around as they get their league journey started away to Bayelsa United.

Niger Tornadoes and Abia Warriors picked up one win apiece across both meetings between the teams last term and will renew hostilities in the first weekend of the 2023–24 NPFL season.

NPFL OPENER
Reigning champions Enyimba will face abridge kings Bendel Insurance in the opening day of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) according to the fixtures released this evening.

Other MD1 fixtures 👇#NPFL24 pic.twitter.com/lmyVMOe0iK

— Fisayo Dairo (@FisayoDairo) August 29, 2023

Remo Stars and Rivers United get the ball rolling against each other after finishing second and third respectively, behind Enyimba in the Championship Round.

Katsina United wasted no time in regaining promotion to the NPFL and will be aiming to make a good start in their first assignment against Kwara United.

Like Katsina United, Kano Pillars also recently booked their ticket back into the top tier of Nigerian football, with a trip to Sunshine Stars awaiting on matchday one.

Lobi Stars, who stunned a lot of people by finishing second in Group B of the regular season last time out, go in search of a winning start this term as they make the trip to Heartland FC.

Despite being founded in 2022, Sporting Lagos have wasted no time ascending to the pinnacle of Nigerian football, and lying in store for their first-ever top-flight involvement is a clash against Gombe United.

🚨Godwin Odibo to Sporting Lagos.

“E dun set” and confirmed ✅

– 1 year deal with no option to extend for the winger.
– Sunshine Stars and Doma Utd were interested.
– Firm interest revealed here two weeks ago as it’s now a done deal #NPFLTransferWithMike pic.twitter.com/8yBkhfTUe7

— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) August 24, 2023

Having only just beaten the drop during the last campaign, Enugu Rangers will be keen to avoid another poor start to the season as they play host to Doma United.