The 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season will officially begin on Friday, August 22, 2025, according to an announcement made by NPFL Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye at the Nigeria Football Federation headquarters in Abuja.
The new season’s full fixtures are expected to be unveiled soon, although the league body is still awaiting confirmation of the four promoted clubs from the Nigeria National League (NNL), the country’s second tier.
Elegbeleye highlighted the importance of aligning the domestic football calendar with continental tournaments:
“The move underscores the federation’s commitment to providing consistency and boosting league performance across Africa.”
Reflecting on the recently concluded 2024/25 season, he noted key milestones:
- Remo Stars clinched their first-ever league title, sealing the championship on matchday 35 with a win over Nasarawa United in Lafia.
- A total of 380 matches were played by 20 clubs (home and away), producing:
- 286 wins
- 92 draws
- 552 home goals
- 16 missed penalties
- 1,180 yellow and red cards
- Yusuf Anas emerged as top scorer with 18 goals, including two consecutive hat-tricks.
- Rabiu Ali followed with 13 goals.
Elegbeleye praised the growing exposure of the league:
“Over 400 NPFL games were broadcast live this season, which is a remarkable step toward increasing visibility and attracting more fans. We now have a more level playing field for all clubs.”
He also addressed financial improvements in the league:
“The issue of unpaid salaries and bonuses has significantly reduced. Financial discipline has improved across the board since this administration came on.”
The upcoming season’s champion will receive ₦200 million, a significant increase meant to boost competitiveness and professionalism in Nigerian football.
The August 22 start will be the third consecutive season the NPFL kicks off in August, following the shift toward global calendar alignment that began with the 2023 abridged Super 6 format.
More details on the 2025/26 fixtures, broadcast schedule, and registration deadlines are expected in the coming weeks. The season also marks the third year of the ₦6 billion broadcast deal with StarTimes.
