NPFL calls for ‘best practices’ as league action resumes

The first of the remaining six games of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season will resume on Sunday with ten games across centres in the country.

Enugu Rangers, Remo Stars, Enyimba and Shooting Stars are among the front-runners for the title after 32 games — before the league was halted late last month to enable Rivers United who had been engaged in continental games to shore up their outstanding NPFL matches.

A statement by the league body said eight of the ten fixtures for week 33 would be broadcast live on cable TV.

“Matchday 34 will hold on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday of June 1 and 2, matchday 35 on June 8 and 9, while matchday 36 is a midweek fixture on June 12, matchday 37 will hold on June 16 and the NPFL will then announce date for matchday 38,” the statement added.

Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL chairman, also called on all stakeholders to ensure “best practices” as the season enters the home stretch.

“We have had a fairly great season with improvements in quality of play and standard of the teams. It is important that we complete the last six games devoid of controversy and unnecessary disputes,” Elegbeleye told TheCable on Saturday.

“The NPFL and the NFF have shown from the start of the season that there is no place for poor officiating and we are not relenting as the monitoring will be intensified and any one found wanting will be delisted swiftly.”

The NPFL chairman said a reward was being worked out for referees with distinguished performances this season.

“We are determined to motivate the performing match officials as we look forward to the next season,” he said.