Premier League Clubs Receive Reprieve: NPFL Restores Player Licenses
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has lifted the sanctions on seven clubs, allowing them to reintegrate their registered players into the league. This move follows the clubs’ compliance with league regulations regarding outstanding debts.
The affected clubs, including Enyimba, Plateau United, El-Kanemi Warriors, Bayelsa United, Lobi Stars, Akwa United, and Heartland, have demonstrated swift actions in meeting the necessary requirements, according to Davidson Owumi, Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL.
Owumi praised the clubs for their prompt actions, highlighting that this compliance will enable them to field their full squad in upcoming matches, enhancing the league’s competitiveness. Notably, the licenses for players from Akwa United have been reinstated under the direction of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), although their case remains under review and further investigations are ongoing.
In contrast, three clubs—Abia Warriors, Katsina United, and Kwara United—have not met the stipulated requirements, rendering their players’ licenses invalid until the issues are resolved. The initial situation arose due to non-compliance with financial obligations to players, leading to the withdrawal of player licenses for the nine affected clubs.
In other news, Ikorodu City is gearing up for a highly anticipated match against Rivers United, the former NPFL champions. The team has been working tirelessly to perfect their strategies ahead of the crucial clash at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan on Sunday. In a social media post, Ikorodu City expressed their commitment, stating, “Work… more work ahead of the weekend clash with Rivers United.”
This marks the first-ever encounter between Ikorodu City and Rivers United, adding an extra layer of excitement to the fixture. Currently, Ikorodu City sit 19th in the NPFL standings, with nine points from eight matches this season.
