No more favoritism & 2 other key things to lookout for in the NPFL next season

The Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, is ready for the 2023/2024 season with kickoff slated for early next month. 

Draws for the new campaign were held in the nation’s capital city, Abuja, on Tuesday after the Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the NPFL board.

Chairman of the NPFL board, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, spoke at the AGM and made some telling revelations during his speech at the Sandralia Hotel, Jabi, the venue of the meeting.

Pulse Sports Nigeria breaks down his speech into three key things for you to understand and watch out for next season. 

One of the most important points made by the chairman was not all is set for the streaming of matches next season in the NPFL.

Per the chairman, the NPFL via its partners Proper Sports have deployed cameras to ensure Nigerians follow games across centres next season.

“It gladdens my heart to harp on the broadcast streaming deal with Proper Sports Africa which has as today deployed cameras to ten venues as a start-up,” he said. 

“So far, the AI cameras have been deployed, installed and tested in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Uyo and Aba. Other locations are Ilorin, Jos, Gombe, Katsina and Kano.”

The chair also confirmed that clubs like Remo Stars, Sporting Lagos and Bendel Insurance, who streamed their individual games to their respective fans and followers last season, will not be allowed to do so in the 2023/2024 season.

He noted that this is the case under the new deal which will cover the geographical zones while confirming that the board will announce something big that borders on streaming deals in the coming days. 

“In the days ahead, there will be a big announcement coming on the broadcast streaming deal.”

Hon Elegbeleye added that it will not be business as usual in the new NPFL. 

According to the chairman, the board will be strict with enforcement of rules and regulations. 

“There will no favouritism in applying the rules no matter whose interest is at stake as our sole interest is the good of the league,” he added. 

“We would be building on the achievements of last season to ensure that Nigeria’s domestic league reclaims a pride of place in Africa.”