Towards harmonising fixtures in the two groups of the ongoing 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, the Interim Management Committee (IMC) has directed that all Matchday 18 games – the last fixtures of the group phase – would now be played on Sunday, 21st May.
The IMC also noted in a letter to NPFL clubs that Federation Cup games of the Nigeria Football Federation have also impacted the commencement of the Super 6.
While regretting the disruption to the schedule of the clubs, the IMC said that it has however afforded the league a window to harmonise the fixtures of the regular season end matches.
IMC Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye clarified that the decision was to ensure that the regular season is concluded on the same date before the commencement of the Super 6.
“The Matchday 18 fixtures in both groups will have to be played on the same date and that would be after Rivers United have completed their outstanding matches by Thursday, 18th May”, Elegbeleye told IMC Media early Thursday.
Outstanding matches involving Rivers United in Group B are Matchdays 12, 15 and 16 which have been scheduled for today (11th May), 15th May and 18th May respectively.
The defending champions whose fixtures were affected by their CAF Confederation Cup campaign, will play Sunshine Stars on Monday, 15th May in a rescheduled Matchday 12 tie; and Doma United on Thursday, 18th May. Both games are in Port Harcourt.
Elegbeleye said: “The season ending Super 6 will hold in Lagos and we don’t want any group to enjoy the advantage of extended rest period after playing their last group games”.
There are no outstanding matches in Group A.
