The 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season is scheduled to commence on August 22, 2025, with a marquee opening fixture in which defending champions Remo Stars will host Rivers United, champions of the 2021/22 season, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne. The high-profile encounter is expected to serve as a compelling curtain-raiser for the forthcoming league campaign.
The fixture was formally announced during the official league draw conducted on Monday at the Abuja Continental Hotel. The ceremony was presided over by NPFL officials and attended by notable former Nigerian internationals, including Garba Lawal and Chikelue Iloenyosi, who jointly participated in the public unveiling of the season’s fixtures through a ballot system.
In addition to the headline clash, a number of competitive matchups have been scheduled for the opening weekend of the season. These include:
Abia Warriors versus Kano Pillars in Umuahia,
Wikki Tourists hosting Plateau United in Bauchi, and
Rangers International FC welcoming league debutants Khun Khalifat in Enugu.
The draw underscores the league’s commitment to transparency, competitive balance, and continued stakeholder engagement as it embarks on a new season.
Newly promoted Barau FC are set to mark their debut in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with a challenging fixture against former champions Enyimba International FC, underscoring the steep competitive landscape they will face in the top flight. Simultaneously, Shooting Stars SC will commence their campaign on home soil against Bayelsa United.
Other notable fixtures scheduled for the opening round of matches include:
Niger Tornadoes versus Nasarawa United;
El-Kanemi Warriors hosting Bendel Insurance; and
Kwara United facing off against Ikorodu City in Ilorin.
During the fixture unveiling event, NPFL Chairman Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye expressed optimism regarding the league’s upward trajectory in both quality and audience engagement. He attributed the resurgence in spectator interest to the return of experienced Nigerian internationals during the preceding season.
“There was a significant increase in attendance figures across our league venues,” said Elegbeleye, “This was driven, in part, by the high-profile returns of former Super Eagles players, including team captain Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi to Kano Pillars, Brown Ideye to Enyimba, and Godwin Obaje to Rangers, among several others.”
In a statement delivered on behalf of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, NFF General Secretary, commended the NPFL for its enhanced scheduling integrity and reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to structural reforms.
“The NFF is particularly pleased with the league’s adherence to its fixture calendar last season,” Dr. Sanusi remarked. “In furtherance of our development objectives, we have already commenced preparations for the future deployment of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology by sending select referees to Morocco for specialized training.”
These developments reflect the NPFL’s commitment to raising operational standards, enhancing officiating quality, and reinforcing public confidence in domestic football administration.#newsafro_
