The 2020/21 season of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) will be the 50th season of the top flight and its 31st since rebranding.
The 2019/20 season was suspended after just 25 matchdays in March 2020 and was officially canceled in July 2020 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result of the cancellation of the season, there was no promotion to or relegation from the NPFL, while the top three teams (Plateau United, Enyimba, and Rivers United) will represent the country on the continent. They will be joined by Kano Pillars — who are the defending champions of the Aiteo Cup.
The 2020/21 NPFL season kicked off on the 27th of December 2020, nine months (285 days) since the last game in the top flight was played.
Adhering to the measures and guidelines by the presidential task force on Covid-19, the games will be played behind closed doors (with no fans in attendance). But the League Management Company (LMC) —in conjunction with Redstrike Group—has now launched its live-streaming platform know as NPFL.TV. The NPFL.TV app is also available on Google Play Store and Appstore for download.
BONUS: Streaming on NPFL.TV is currently *FREE* till the 20th of January, and henceforth users will have to pay ₦1500 monthly to access it. You will get to watch some of the best NPFL clubs in action every week.
To also engage with fans, stakeholders of the league have maintained a strong presence on social media, as hashtags like #NPFL21 and #NPFLISBACK trended on twitter on matchday 1.
THE NPFL TEAMS FOR THE 2020/21 SEASON ARE:
1. ABIA WARRIORS
- LOCATION: Umuahia
- STADIUM: Umuahia Township Stadium
- COACH: Willy Udube
2. ADAMAWA UNITED
- LOCATION: Yola
- STADIUM: Pantami Stadium
- COACH: Ibrahim Bello
3. AKWA United F.C.
- LOCATION: Uyo
- STADIUM: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium
- COACH: Kennedy Boboye
4. DAKKADA
- LOCATION: Uyo
- STADIUM: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium
- COACH: Caleb Esu
5. ENUGU RANGERS
- LOCATION: Enugu
- STADIUM: Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium
- COACH: Salisu Yusuf
6. ENYIMBA
- LOCATION: Aba
- STADIUM: Enyimba International Stadium
- COACH: Fatai Osho
7. HEARTLAND F.C.
- LOCATION: Owerri
- STADIUM: Okigwe Stadium
- COACH: Fidelis Ilechukwu
8. IFEANYI UBAH F.C.
- LOCATION: Nnewi
- STADIUM: Ifeanyi Ubah FC International Stadium
- COACH: Uche Okagbue
9. JIGAWA GOLDEN STARS
- LOCATION: Dutse
- STADIUM: Sani Abacha Stadium
- COACH: Dodo Isah
10. KANO PILLARS
- LOCATION: Kano
- STADIUM: Sani Abacha Stadium
- COACH: Lionel Emmanuel Soccoia
11. KATSINA UNITED
- LOCATION: Katsina
- STADIUM: Muhammadu Dikko Stadium
- COACH: Henry Makinwa
12. KWARA UNITED
- LOCATION: Ilorin
- STADIUM: Kwara State Stadium
- COACH: Kafaru Alabi
13. LOBI STARS
- LOCATION: Makurdi
- STADIUM: Aper Aku Stadium
- COACH: Kabiru Dogo
14. MFM F.C.
- LOCATION: Lagos
- STADIUM: Agege Stadium
- COACH: Tony Bolus
15. NASARAWA UNITED
- LOCATION: Lafia
- STADIUM: Lafia Township Stadium
- COACH: Bala Nikyu
16. PLATEAU UNITED
- LOCATION: Jos
- STADIUM: New Jos Stadium
- COACH: Abdu Maikaba
17. RIVERS UNITED
- LOCATION: Port Harcourt
- STADIUM: Liberation Stadium
- COACH: Stanley Eguma
18. SUNSHINE STARS
- LOCATION: Akure
- STADIUM: Akure Township Stadium
- COACH: Gbenga Ogunbote
19. WARRI WOLVES
- LOCATION: Warri
- STADIUM: Warri Township Stadium
- COACH: Ogenyi Evans
20. WIKKI TOURISTS F.C.
- LOCATION: Bauchi
- STADIUM: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium
- COACH: Usman Abd’Allah.
The 2020/21 NPFL season is expected scheduled to run for seven (7) months — ending in July 2021.
The LMC also stated that the winners of the 2020/21 NPFL will receive ₦75 million, while the runners-up will receive ₦50 million, and the 3rd-placed team will get ₦35 million. The other teams will receive payment based on their positions on the league table.
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