The 2017/2018 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season is scheduled to officially begin on the 8th of January, 2018.
The annual NPFL pre-season tournament, which is always a time for the teams to showcase their new signings and team strength, will run for seven days; from the 11th till the 17th of December in Kano state.
The schedule of the new season’s activities as approved by the League Management Company (LMC) body will entail the Pre-Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Consultative Meeting, which will hold on 16th of December with the NPFL clubs, and the induction and orientation of the four newly upgraded clubs, who will join other teams in the new season.
The LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar also stated other prime activities scheduled for the month of December “the draws for the new season, pre-season seminar and spot checking on Clubs compliance to licensing regulations, payment of players and officials salaries, the status of facilities, etc.”
All clubs participating in the 2017/2018 NPFL season have been advised by the LMC to submit Club Licensing documents on or before January 5, 2018.
The NFF Club Licensing Certificates will be released by the League Management Company, which is the First Instance Body (FIB) on the 8th of January to qualified clubs, who have fulfilled all criteria to participate in the 2017/2018 NPFL season.
The LMC, in a statement, assured viewers, fans and stakeholders that while compiling the schedule for the 2017/2018 NPFL season, it took proper consideration of all scheduled fixtures of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, AITEO CUP and the CAF Club tournament. “This is part of the reason we delayed the release of the fixtures and barring any unforeseen events, we definitely will conclude the season on September 30, 2018.” they added.
There will be three-midweek matches on match days 2, 4 and 5, while the mid-season break will be from April 30 to May 5, and an extended break for the FIFA World Cup from June 14 to the 15th of July.
Resumption from the World Cup break will be on July 18 with matchday 25 which will be the first of another three mid-week matches in the second stage.
The other two mid-week fixtures will be on matchdays 27 and 29.
Featured Image Credit: The Guardian
