Five clubs of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) – Rangers, Lobi Stars, Nasarawa United, Kwara United and Niger Tornadoes – have failed to meet the infrastructure requirements of the NPFL Club Licensing regulation and will be playing their home matches at venues approved by the Interim Management Committee (IMC).
They could not provide up-to-standard stadium facilities to host matches.
NPFL has however released fixtures for MatchDay 1 fixtures and their venues.
According to the fixture released by the IMC, Nasarawa United will host Enyimba at the New Jos Township Stadium, while Kwara United will welcome Gombe United to Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Both fixtures are in Group A.
Other Group A fixtures will see Akwa United host Bendel Insurance at the Nest of Champions in Uyo; Plateau United versus Shooting Stars at the Jos Township Stadium; and Remo Stars engaging El- Kanemi Warriors at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.
In Group B, Rangers will play Abia Warriors at the Awka City Stadium and not their traditional Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
The rest fixtures are Bayelsa United versus Dakkada FC at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenegoa; Wikki Tourists against Niger Tornadoes at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi; Doma versus Sunshine Stars at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe; and title holders, Rivers United against Lobi Stars at the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
IMC Head of Operations, Davidson Owumi said that, in strict adherence to the provisions of the NPFL Club Licensing Regulation, clubs that failed requirements would 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 season is due to kick off on 8th January following the colourful draw ceremony held in Abuja on Wednesday.
IMC Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye had announced that the winner of the abridged league would receive N100 million with each of the 20 participating clubs receiving N10 million take off grant.
