The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has officially scheduled the draw for the 2025–26 season to take place on Monday, 28 July, in Abuja.
The event, which will mark a pivotal moment in the calendar of Nigerian professional football, is set to be held at the Wazobia Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel, coinciding with the league’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The NPFL confirmed the date and venue in an official memorandum signed by Barrister Ibrahim Danladi, the league’s Secretary and Legal Adviser.
The dual scheduling of the calendar draw and the AGM, according to the memo, is designed to enhance administrative coherence and ensure a streamlined transition into the upcoming season.
“The holding of the calendar draw alongside the Annual General Meeting reflects our commitment to efficiency and structured planning,” the statement read, underlining the league’s intention to maintain professional standards in its operations.
This year’s event will serve as a crucial platform for strategic planning and preparation by the participating clubs, providing the full roadmap for the 2025–26 NPFL season.
With the fixture schedule acting as a foundation for clubs’ pre-season logistics, training timelines, and travel planning, the draw is anticipated with keen interest across the Nigerian football community.
In a bid to elevate the significance of the occasion, the NPFL has extended a special invitation to former Super Eagles defender Chikelue Iloenyosi.
Currently serving as president of the Anambra State Football Association, Iloenyosi has been named the league’s special guest of honour for the event.
The league cited Iloenyosi’s enduring contributions to Nigerian football, both on and off the pitch, as the reason for the honour.
The invitation letter addressed to him read: “As a distinguished personality and former international whose contributions to football and national development are widely respected, your presence will greatly enhance the prestige and purpose of this important football engagement.”
Reacting to the gesture, Iloenyosi expressed heartfelt appreciation for the recognition. “I just received the invitation and I must thank the NPFL, led by Hon.
Gbenga Elegbeleye, for the honour the league body has bestowed upon me with this invitation,” said the former Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri player.
The upcoming ceremony is not only symbolic but also serves a broader purpose in reinforcing unity within the league’s ecosystem.
It is seen as a step towards encouraging sustainable growth and professionalism in the country’s top-flight competition.
As the NPFL gears up for a new campaign, the league’s leadership has continued to push reforms aimed at improving club governance, financial transparency, and infrastructure development.
The 2025–26 season is expected to build upon these efforts, setting new standards for Nigeria’s premier domestic league.
The presence of key stakeholders, football administrators, club officials, and invited guests at the Abuja gathering will further highlight the importance of the NPFL’s ongoing transformation agenda.
With the calendar reveal on the horizon, anticipation is mounting among fans and clubs alike, as Nigerian football prepares to usher in another chapter in its evolving journey.
