The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is gearing up for an exciting new season, with the 2025/26 campaign set to kick off on Friday, August 22, 2025. The league body made the announcement at the Nigeria Football Federation headquarters in Abuja, with Chairman of the NPFL board, Gbenga Elegbeleye, emphasizing the significance of the date.
According to Elegbeleye, the August 22 start date is part of the federation’s strategy to align domestic football calendars with continental competitions. This will mark the third consecutive season that the NPFL has started its season in August, following the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons which began in September and August respectively. The move underscores the federation’s commitment to providing consistency and boosting league performance across Africa.
The NPFL board is still awaiting the four promoted teams from the Nigeria National League, the country’s second division, which will join the existing teams in the top-flight league. The full fixtures for the upcoming season are expected to be released in the coming weeks, along with broadcast arrangements and player registration deadlines.
The incoming season will also mark the third year of the five-year broadcast deal with StarTimes, which is reportedly worth N6bn. The deal has been instrumental in increasing the league’s visibility and reach, and will continue to play a crucial role in promoting Nigerian football.
Remo Stars, who won the 2024/25 NPFL title, will be looking to defend their crown in the new season. The team claimed 71 points to win their first-ever NPFL title, and will be eager to build on their success in the upcoming campaign.
The NPFL’s decision to start the season in August is a deliberate effort to realign with the global football calendar. This move is expected to have a positive impact on the league’s performance and visibility, and will likely lead to increased interest and support from fans and sponsors alike.
As the countdown to the new season begins, fans and teams alike are eagerly anticipating the start of the NPFL 2025/26 season. With a new season comes new opportunities and challenges, and it will be interesting to see how the teams perform and which ones will emerge as contenders for the title.
