The NFF appoints new NPFL board, sets out priorities

The NFF appoints new NPFL board, sets out priorities
Credit: Icon Sport

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) headed by Ibrahim Gusau, has appointed new board members for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

According to a post on the league’s social media page, the board was inaugurated on Wednesday in Abuja.

Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye was named the board’s chairman, while Danlami Ibrahim and Davidson Owumi were appointed Secretary and Chief Operating Officer (COO), for the Nigerian league.

The other members of the newly constituted board includes Daniel Amokachi, Mohammed Nasiru Sa’idu, Poubeni Ogun, Okey Kpalukwu, Suleiman Umar and Dominic Iorfa.

This newly inaugurated board replaced the Interim Management Committee (IMC) in handling the organisation and promotion of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

The new board has a two-year tenure, the same as the boards of the Nigeria National League (NNL), the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) and the Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO).

It's worth knowing that the IMC took over the running of the NPFL after the Federal Government scrapped the League Management Company (LMC) in September, 2022.

The sports ministry had declared LMC an “illegal” institution and was unrecognised by the government.

The IMC headed by Gbenga Elegbeleye organised the 2022/23 abridged league, which Enyimba emerged as champions in the Super Six Championship playoffs.

NFF sets priorities for new NPFL board members

During the inauguration, the NFF president not only charged the new board members to reposition the league, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau also reiterated the need for club licensing and compliance.

“Club Licensing is a fundamental football development trajectory that the new Board must take very seriously. Therefore, I charge the new board to set a target which must be met by all Clubs as prerequisite for participation in the League,” Gusau said.

“I also want you to set a percentage compliance on Club Licensing requirements for each Club, so that every season, you can measure the extent of adherence by each Club.”

Gusau reminded the new NPFL board members that their appointment was based on their track record of success, which must be replicated in the league as their tenure commences.

He assured them of maximum support and urged them to roll out policies to grow the league.

Meanwhile the NPFL 2023/24 league season will commence on August 26th, and will run the usual 38-matchday format in line with the big leagues in Europe.

This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago

Joseph is a freelance writer who spends most of his time writing engaging football contents. Based in Nigeria, Joseph is a die-hard Real Madrid fan with over 8 years experience in the sports betting space. He has covered football match previews, predictions, and news across leagues in Africa and Europe.