The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) curtain raiser fixture in Ibadan will be the only game to be played on the opening day of the 2023/24 season.
Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) will host former champions, Plateau United at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State on Saturday, September 9.
The NPFL boss, Gbenga Elegbeleye, noted that the decision was also necessitated by the Super Eagles match on Sunday, September 10 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
“Some of our clubs prefer playing their home matches on Sundays to attract a full house of fans and we cannot start from the first day to have scattered fixtures, hence all other games apart from the curtain raiser have been moved to the following weekend”, he added.
Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye noted that the decision is consistent with the tradition established last season under the then Interim Management Committee (IMC).
“Remember that last season’s opening day fixture was the match in Uyo between Akwa United and Bendel Insurance. The other nine fixtures were played the following weekend, and it is one of the traditions we are bringing into the new league”, remarked Elegbeleye who is now the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) by virtue of the football statutes.
