The draws for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), have been moved again according to renowned Nigeria football news journalist Fisayo Dairo.
This is the third time the draws have been moved by the League Management Committee. Goalball Live reported a while ago about the draws being rescheduled to hold on Thursday 17 August 2023, with a league resumption target of Saturday 9 September 2023.
The draws were moved from that date and on Monday, renowned football journalist Dairo reported on the unfriendly development for the clubs in the Nigerian top flight.
FLASH!
Draws for the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season earlier rescheduled for Thursday, August 24 has now been re-rescheduled for next Tuesday, August 29 in Abuja.
All inconveniences are duly regretted. League kick-off remains September 9, 2023. ALOHA pic.twitter.com/9zadGhNp4D
— Fisayo Dairo (@FisayoDairo) August 21, 2023
Timeline of draws postponement for NPFL 2023/24 season
The NPFL 2023/24 season was billed to kick off on Saturday, 26 August 2023.
The draws to schedule the matches for the new season in which Nigeria’s most successful club, Enyimba International FC of Aba, will be defending their 2022/23 title, were scheduled to hold sometime in early August.
However, according to our report, the draws were moved to 17 August with the league kickoff being pushed to 9 September 2023.
The reason given was that the League Management Committee wanted the Nigerian representatives in the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup to be match fit and ready for an NPFL season that will be a lot more different from other seasons.
🚨The start of #NPFL24 has now been postponed to the weekend of Sept 9th, 2023
– NPFL board says postponement is to give room for clubs in CAF competitions to start same as the other teams
– To allow the live streaming arrangements be in proper shape
– Draws holds Aug. 17 pic.twitter.com/wVMVeWMwmI— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) August 14, 2023
Another reason was that the technicalities behind the broadcasting of the games were still being worked out. Later, it came out that the draws were moved to 24 August 2023 with the league resumption date unchanged from 9 September.
As the date drew closer, the Chief Operating Officer of the NPL, Davidson Owumi, confirmed on Monday that there are no issues with the rescheduled date.
He mentioned this after the Saturday 19 August 2023 CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round first leg tie between Bendel Insurance and ASO Chlef of Algeria.
He also chipped in that logistics reasons caused the postponement of the initial 17 August date. A few hours after the report went out, Fisayo Dairo sent out flash news that the draws have been moved to Tuesday 29 August 2023.
Dairo claimed that the 9 September NPFL resumption date has not changed, however.
NPFL to get Super Eagles legend as coach
In other news, another Super Eagles legend is about to join the NPFL as a coach.
Former Nigeria national football team goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu was appointed as the goalkeeper coach at NPFL side Abia Warriors Football Club on Monday.
The unveiling happened at the club’s secretariat at Umuahia in Abia State. It was hosted by newly-appointed Abia Warriors chairman John Obuh.
IKE SHORUNMU JOINS ABIA WARRIORS
Former Super Eagles goaltender, Ike Shorunmu has joined the Technical crew of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia as the new goalkeepers coach. pic.twitter.com/mCwvIBcNHj
— Abia Warriors FC (@AbiaWarriors) August 21, 2023
Obuh praised Shorunmu’s experience and pointed out that he was the best man for the role.
In response, Shorunmu promised to do his best to get the Abia Warriors goalkeeping department up to speed for the upcoming NPL season.
Shorunmu was most recently the goalkeeper coach for the three-time AFCON champions, the Super Eagles. He has held this same role at Enyimba and Heartland FC in the past.
He now joins Finidi George as a former Super Eagles player involved in the Nigerian league football landscape.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 months ago
