NPFL 2025/26 season kicks off Friday with 20 teams in contention
Photo of NPFL match ball. Photo Credit- Pulse Sports
The 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season is set to commence on Friday, August 22, 2025, marking the 54th edition of Nigeria’s top-flight football league and the 36th since its professionalization. The league’s governing body announced the schedule, with defending champions Remo Stars facing Rivers United in the season’s curtain-raiser at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, kicking off at 4:00 pm.
According to reports, the NPFL will feature 20 clubs this season, including four newly promoted teams: Ikorodu City, Barau FC, Kun Khalifat FC, and Beyond Limits. This marks the highest number of privately owned clubs in the league since 2019, with Remo Stars, Ikorodu City, Barau FC, and Kun Khalifat FC leading the charge. The season will run through May 24, 2026, concluding with a final matchday that includes Remo Stars facing Bendel Insurance away, Rangers International clashing with Ikorodu City in Lagos, Plateau United hosting Kano Pillars, and Rivers United taking on Katsina United.
The NPFL board, led by Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye, confirmed the fixtures during a press briefing at the Nigeria Football Federation headquarters in Abuja. The league will observe a mid-season break from December 30, 2025, to January 6, 2026, with the mid-season transfer window open from January 1 to January 30, 2026. Elegbeleye emphasized efforts to align the NPFL calendar with global football schedules, marking the third consecutive season with an August start.
In a bid to enhance the league’s quality, the NPFL is exploring the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology and seeking new broadcast partners for the upcoming season. Clubs have been directed to upgrade their stadiums to meet VAR standards, with selected referees already undergoing VAR training.
The full list of the 20 teams competing in the 2025/26 NPFL season includes:
1. Abia Warriors
2. Akwa United
3. Barau FC
4. Bayelsa United
5. Bendel Insurance
6. Beyond Limits
7. El-Kanemi Warriors
8. Enyimba
9. Ikorodu City
10. Kano Pillars
11. Katsina United
12. Kun Khalifat FC
13. Kwara United
14. Lobi Stars
15. Nasarawa United
16. Niger Tornadoes
17. Plateau United
18. Rangers International
19. Remo Stars
20. Rivers United
The opening weekend promises exciting matchups, with newly promoted Ikorodu City traveling to face Kano Pillars, Beyond Limits hosting nine-time champions Enyimba, and Nasarawa United welcoming Shooting Stars. Other fixtures include Kwara United vs. Niger Tornadoes and Plateau United vs. Katsina United.
Remo Stars, who clinched their first-ever NPFL title in the 2024/25 season with 71 points, will aim to defend their crown against a competitive field. Rivers United, runners-up last season, and continental contenders Enyimba and Rangers International are among the favorites to challenge for the title. Fans can expect intense regional rivalries, such as the Oriental Derby between Enyimba and Rangers International, to add drama to the campaign.
The NPFL continues to grow in prominence, with increased prize money of N200 million for the eventual champions, a 33.3% increase from last season’s N150 million, as announced by Elegbeleye. The league’s focus on infrastructure upgrades, officiating improvements, and enhanced media coverage aims to elevate its status both domestically and across the continent.
