The NPFL is just around the midway point, with the excitement from the games increasing weekly.
It has been a roller-coaster season so far, with the boys separated from the boys.
The once-dour NPFL is gaining more traction with it being aired live every week, but it may lose eyeballs as AFCON 2023 kicks off this weekend in Ivory Coast.
The NPFL board is working assiduously to ensure that the momentum the league has enjoyed so far is not lost because of AFCON 2023.
The Super Eagles will kick off their campaign in Ivory Coast with a game against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
Unfortunately, the Super Eagles game will clash with some NPFL matches, forcing the board to postpone those matches.
NPFL board postpones several Week 18 matches
The NPFL enters Week 18 this weekend with several juicy ties on the cards, but some matches will not hold due to the kick-off of AFCON 2023, which features the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
🚨OFFICIAL: Following the commencement of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations and Super Eagles first match on Sunday 14th January, 2024, the NPFL has rearrange Matchday 18 games as under:#NPFL24 pic.twitter.com/J1Ai9dSl6h
— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) January 9, 2024
According to a communique from the Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL board – Davidson Owumi, all clubs with matches fixed for Sunday, January 14, are postponed.
Six matches were billed for Sunday but have now been shifted to Monday to allow fans to watch the Super Eagles game against Equatorial Guinea.
Owummi also advised the affected clubs to comply with the latest instructions and afford their officials the necessary logistics for hitch-free games.
The matches that are affected
The games billed for Saturday will continue as scheduled. They are
Rangers Int'l vs Gombe United, Abia Warriors vs Doma United, Heartland vs Kwara United and Sunshine Stars vs Niger Tornadoes.
The games shifted to Monday are the South West derby between Sporting Lagos and Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
The other games are Bayelsa United vs Bendel Insurance, Rivers United vs Akwa United, Katsina United vs League Leaders, Remo Stars and Lobi Stars vs Kano Pillars.
The last game for Week 18 is between Plateau United and the People's Elephant, Enyimba of Aba.
It is not the first time matches have been postponed by the NPFL board this season. Due to logistics, the week 15 and 16 NPFL games were also rescheduled.
How things stand in the league
With Plateau United hosting Rivers United in a rescheduled NPFL game on Wednesday in Jos, Remo Stars sit atop the NPFL table with 32 points.
The Sky Blues are joint top of the league with Lobi Stars, while the surprise team of the season, Doma United, follow closely with 31 points.
Enyimba and Kano Pillars have witnessed an upsurge in form following a dour start to the season. They are in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
At the bottom of the table is Bayelsa United, who lost their most potent striker, Robert Mizo, to Libyan club Al Hilal.
Also in the bottom three of the table are Sporting Lagos and Heartland FC of Owerri.
https://twitter.com/oyimzy/status/1744268676683972826
This article was most recently revised and updated 8 months ago
