The reigning champions of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Enugu Rangers will begin their title defence at home against returnees El-Kanemi Warriors.
According the draws conducted by the NPFL Tuesday in Abuja, 2024 runners up Remo Stars will begin their campaign away at Abia Warriors, Enyimba will visit newly promoted Beyond Limit in Ikenne, Kano Pillars engage new boys Ikorodu City while Lobi Stars host Akwa United in Bauchi.
In other week one fixtures, Bendel Insurance will host Rivers United, Bayelsa United will meet Sunshine Stars in Akure, another returnee Nasarawa United will host 3SC in Lafia, Kwara United tackle Niger Tornadoes while Plateau United welcome Katsina United to the New Jos Township stadium.
Meanwhile, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has charged the board of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), to ensure strict adherence to match fixtures in the 2025 season.
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Speaking at the 2024 NPFL Annual General Meeting and draws ceremony in Abuja, the NFF president bemoaned the situation where fixtures involving clubs that are taking part in continental competitions are allowed to accumulate.
Gusau, therefore, said the NPFL should ensure that the fixtures for the 2024/2025 fixtures are made public only after they have vetted and certified that the matches would be prosecuted without a glitch.
He said “Let us holistically look at where we were and where we are now and where the NFF can come in to support you to improve. We shall do our best to continue to improve on the standard of the league.
“Last season we had challenges with fixtures. We have to keep the fixtures. You shouldn’t make the fixtures public until everything is in order. We must keep to it. There shouldn’t be accumulated fixtures again. No postponement of matches.
“We must keep to the fixtures from the beginning to the end of the season. When drawing up the fixtures, you must take into consideration other competitions like the Federation Cup. With your cooperation, we would achieve this. By the grace of God, we would make a lot of changes.”
Gusau maintained that if the NPFL adheres to the prepared match fixtures, it would enable sponsors of the league to plan on what they want to do to support the growth of the league.
The 2024/ 2025 NPFL season is scheduled to kickoff on August 31.
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