NPFL Watch: Akwa United to battle Insurance in season opener, other games postponed, league renamed

Soccernet.ng highlights a few of the adjustments which have been effected forward of the kickoff of the 2022/2023 Nigeria top-flight marketing campaign. 

Title change: Nonetheless NPFL?

The Nigeria first division will now not be known as the Nigeria Skilled Soccer League because it has been renamed the Nigeria Premier Soccer League.

This isn’t the primary time, within the league’s 51-year historical past, it will likely be renamed because it solely acquired the tag ‘Nigeria Skilled Soccer League’ forward of the 2012/2013 season.

It had at totally different occasions been often called the Nigerian Premier League, the Nigerian Premiership, the Nigerian Premier League, the Nigerian Skilled League, the Nigerian Nationwide League – First Division, and the Nigerian Soccer League.

One opening spherical match? 

Just one match might be performed on the opening weekend of the 2023 Nigeria Premier Soccer League as different video games have been postponed to subsequent weekend.

It was gathered that the Nigeria Soccer Federation, the IMC, and Membership Homeowners agreed to shift the remainder of the Matchday one fixtures by per week whereas the star match will nonetheless kick off on January eighth.

On the Nest of Champions, 2021 league champions Akwa United will host newly-promoted Bendel Insurance coverage within the first NPFL recreation of the season.

Akwa United might be favourites to safe all three factors in opposition to an Insurance coverage staff making their second look within the high flight within the final 13 years.

Insurance coverage, although, stay considered one of Nigeria’s oldest and most staunchly supported golf equipment.

Two league titles, three FA Cup victories, and one CAF Cup triumph (in 1994) recommend that the Benin Arsenal are additionally of the nation’s most profitable golf equipment.

Rivers United are the reigning champions of the NPFL. 

Postponed Matchday One Fixtures:

Nasarawa United vs Enyimba
Enugu Rangers vs Abia Warriors
Plateau United vs Taking pictures Stars
Bayelsa United vs Dakkada
Doma United vs Sunshine Stars
Kwara United vs Gombe United
Remo Stars vs El-Kanemi Warriors
Rivers United vs Lobi Stars
Wikki Vacationers vs Niger Tornadoes