NPFL: Five clubs fail to meet stadium requirements

Seven times champion of the Nigeria Professional Football League, Rangers International of Enugu, Lobi Stars of Makurdi, Nasarawa United, Kwara United and Niger Tornadoes will play their home games in the 2022/2023 NPFL season away from home, after their stadiums failed to meet up with the infrastructure requirements set by the Interim Management Committee of the league as part of club licensing.

The five clubs will now seek alternative venues, based on the approval of the IMC before the kick off of the league by January 8 2023.

Matchday one fixtures in both groups of the abridged league was released during the draw on Wednesday,

Following the Draws for the 2022/23 season of the NPFL, the IMC on Thursday released fixtures for Matchday 1 and venues for the games.

Nasarawa United will host Enyimba in one of the matchday one encounters in Group A at the New Jos Township Stadium, Jos, while Kwara United will welcome Gombe United to the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.

Other Group A fixtures will see Akwa United host Bendel Insurance at the Nest of Champions in Uyo, Plateau United vs Shooting Stars at the Jos Township Stadium and Remo Stars vs El- Kanemi Warriors at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

In Group B, Rangers International will play Abia Warriors at the Awka City Stadium, where they adopted last season.

The rest of the fixtures will see Bayelsa United face Dakkada at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenegoa, Wikki Tourists will come up against Niger Tornadoes at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi, Doma United will entertain Sunshine Stars at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe and Cup holders, Rivers United will welcome Lobi Stars at the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Davidson Owumi the Head of Operations of the IMC said that in strict adherence to the provisions of the NPFL Club Licensing Regulation, clubs that fail requirements will be held accountable.

“We want to get it right from the start and this can only be achieved when the rules are followed”, he insisted.

The 2022/23 NPFL season will start on January 8, 2023.