NFF president confirms NPFL kickoff date

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau has confirmed that there will be no change to the kickoff date of the 2025-26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

Gusau made this known on Friday in Lafia while declaring open the NPFL 2025/26 pre-season seminar.

He described the kickoff as a positive development that the league calendar now aligns with that of European clubs, as he urged stakeholders to maintain their support for the Gbenga Elegbeleye-led board.

“When we came on board, we had no choice but to opt for an abridged league. This paved the way for achieving uniformity, as our league ended in May last season. This season, too, we will start on August 22 as scheduled.”

Earlier, NPFL Chairman Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye assured that the board will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to promote the league and attract sponsorship, promising to sustain the high standards set over the past two seasons.

The seminar brought together all 20 NPFL media officers, along with the league’s Chief Security Officer and the chairman of the Supporters Club, for training sessions ahead of the new season.

The 2025-26 NPFL season is scheduled to begin on August 22.