Record champions, Enyimba of Aba, have been pitted against Remo Stars of Ikenne in the opening game of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) Championship play-off, which begins at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
The NPFL Championship Play-off, also known as Super Six, is the deciding tournament for the 2022/23 abridged league, which threw up the six participating teams in the competition.
The teams in the competition are Enyimba of Aba, Remo Stars, Sunshine Stars of Akure, Bendel Insurance, Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Rivers United of Port Harcourt.
According to the draw held in Lagos yesterday, the first game between Enyimba and Remo Stars will start by 2.00 p.m., Rivers United and Sunshine Stars will battle thereafter by 4.00 p.m., before the day’s last match between Lobi Stars and Bendel Insurance by 6.00 p.m.
All six teams will face each other in five match days, which would be beamed live on Supersport.
The teams will rest tomorrow and resume hostilities on Monday with Lobi Stars against Enyimba by 2.00 p.m., Rivers United versus Remo Stars at 4.00 p.m. and
Bendel Insurance against Sunshine Stars rounding off the day at 6.00 p.m.
On matchday three, June 7, the opening game will feature Bendel Insurance against Enyimba by 2.00 p.m., Remo Stars versus Sunshine Stars at 4.00 p.m. and Lobi Stars against Rivers United by 6.00 p.m.
Day four, June 9, will see Rivers United in the opening game against Bendel Insurance by 2.00 p.m., Lobi Stars versus Remo Stars at 4.00 p.m. and the Sunshine Stars versus Enyimba match at 6.00 p.m.
On the final day, June 11, which is matchday five, Sunshine Stars versus Lobi Stars will open proceedings from 2.00 p.m., followed by Remo Stars against Bendel Insurance by 4.00 p.m., before the last game of the competition between Enyimba and Rivers United by 6.00 p.m.
The winner of the competition will earn N100 million for their efforts, according to NPFL’s Interim Management Committee (IMC).
Speaking at the draws held at GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited head office, yesterday, IMC Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, commended the company, which is the league’s strategic partner, for their commitment to laying a solid foundation and transparent football ecosystem in the country using The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF) as the vehicle.
He enthused that the NPFL Championship Play-off will see the best of Nigerian league football on display, saying the six teams will trade tackles in a round-robin format beginning from today.
Also commenting on the competition, Head of Operations, NPFL, Davidson Owumi, acknowledged that expectation are high from fans of Nigerian football.
He added: “That is why we hit the ground running, using the current abridged league as a test case and ensuring that we put in all the necessary measures to uphold transparency. For example, indemnities of match officials and other critical stakeholders connected to the league are being administered seamlessly, using international best practices as our guide.
“As an organisation, we are strongly committed to a very transparent football ecosystem, which is the best way to restore confidence in our sponsors and investors.”
