Court Ruling: We Won’t Stop League Matches —NPL Scribe

The uncertainty whether Premier League matches will continue due to the judgement of Justice Donatus Okorowa of the Abuja Federal High Court, which declared the Nigeria Premier League, NPL, illegal, has been cleared by Tunji Babalola, the scribe of the NPL, who said that the games will be played on Wednesday.

Babalola told P.M.Sports in Abuja that teams should not be deterred by the current crisis in the football family as the board of the NPL is determined to follow the league fixtures without unnecessary delay so that the season can be concluded within the stipulated time. He noted that the long period that the league lasted last season affected the performance of Nigerian clubs in the CAF competitions.

“Hopefully, the league will continue this Wednesday with the midweek games. We want to avoid a prolonged season, which happened last year. This situation affected the fortunes of Nigerian clubs at the CAF clubs competitions. Enyimba of Aba and Sunshine Stars of Akure would have qualified and possibly won the Champions League and the Confederation Cup respectively last season,” Babalola said.

He also assured football fans that this season will witness an improved organisation and officiating of the league games by referees, noting that the board is prepared to make the game more exciting in Nigeria.

According to him, two games played since the season kicked off have not come short of what is expected of the Premier League matches.

—Francis Achi/Abuja