Defending champions, Remo Stars and former champions, Rivers United have been drawn for the opening match of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) starting on the weekend of 22 to 24 August 2025.
The draw for the fixtures was held at a colourful ceremony inside Abuja Continental Hotel with some ex-international players picking the ballots.
Prior to the draw, NPFL Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye said the league recorded significant growth in followership in the concluded season and attributed that partly to the return of some Super Eagles players from European clubs.
‘There was a significant increase in numbers at our games as our league grew in popularity with the notable return of ex-internationals such as Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi to Kano Pillars, Brown Ideye to Enyimba and Godwin Obaje to Rangers amongst a number of other returning players’, the Chairman stated.
Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who represented Ibrahim Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau said that the Federation was pleased with developments in the league, particularly in the last season when the schedule was strictly adhered to.
The NFF assured the gathering of NPFL Club Chairmen, General Managers and the media that plans are in the offing to introduce Video Assistant Referee in the league, noting that some referees were recently sponsored to Morocco for training.
In other fixtures of the opening week, Abia Warriors will play host to Kano Pillars, Wikki Tourists host Plateau United, while Rangers will host newcomers, Khun Khalifat.
Other fixtures include Niger Tornadoes vs Nasarawa United, while another newly promoted side, Barau FC will host former champions, Enyimba, just as Shooting Stars are home to Bayelsa United. The other two fixtures of the day are El-Kanemi Warriors vs Bendel Insurance and Kwara United vs Ikorodu City.
