EuroMatch NPFL Season Kicks Off With Shooting Stars

The EuroMatch NPFL season officially begins today, 28 August, with Shooting Stars hosting newly promoted Inter Lagos at Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.

The Matchday One fixture kicked off at 4pm, marking the start of a new chapter for Nigeria’s top-flight football. The league now operates under a $7.5 million naming-rights agreement with EuroMatch, which has renamed the competition the EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League.

The new deal also increases the champions’ prize money from ₦200 million to a record ₦1 billion, adding another major incentive for clubs competing in the 2026/2027 campaign.

Shooting Stars enter the EuroMatch NPFL season under new technical adviser Salisu Yusuf, following the departure of Nurudeen Aweroro. Aweroro led the Oluyole Warriors to a third-place finish and continental qualification last season.

The Ibadan club will want a stronger opening after winning only one of their first league matches across the past five seasons. They drew three and lost one of the other four opening fixtures.

Yusuf has inherited a reshaped squad after Ismail Ayodele, Tijani Kabiru and Ayobami Junior left the club. Ayobami was the team’s leading assist provider last season. Shooting Stars have responded by bringing in Taheer Abubakar, Kalu Nweke, Albert Kovarh, Tamuno Kalio, Issa Yusuf and Aule Johnmark.

For Inter Lagos, the fixture marks their first appearance in the Nigerian top flight after earning promotion last season. The Lagos side drew 0-0 with Shooting Stars in a pre-season friendly on 4 August and will hope that result provides confidence for their debut campaign.

Head coach Shakiru Biodun Giwa is expected to place significant trust in the players who helped Inter Lagos win promotion.

The remaining nine EuroMatch NPFL Matchday One fixtures will take place on Sunday, 30 August, with all matches scheduled for 4pm.

Date Fixture Kick-off
Friday, 28 August Shooting Stars vs Inter Lagos 4pm
Sunday, 30 August Bendel Insurance vs Warri Wolves 4pm
Sunday, 30 August Niger Tornadoes vs Enyimba 4pm
Sunday, 30 August Abia Warriors vs Kun Khalifat FC 4pm
Sunday, 30 August Rivers United vs Plateau United 4pm
Sunday, 30 August Barau FC vs Nasarawa United 4pm
Sunday, 30 August Rangers International vs Katsina United 4pm
Sunday, 30 August Doma United vs Sporting Lagos 4pm
Sunday, 30 August Ikorodu City vs Ranchers Bees 4pm
Sunday, 30 August Kwara United vs Kano Pillars 4pm

Among Sunday’s fixtures, Bendel Insurance vs Warri Wolves will provide a South-South derby, while Niger Tornadoes will host Enyimba. Abia Warriors will face Kun Khalifat FC, and Rivers United will welcome Plateau United.

Elsewhere, Barau FC will play Nasarawa United, Rangers International will meet Katsina United, and Doma United will host Sporting Lagos. Ikorodu City will take on Ranchers Bees, while Kwara United will welcome Kano Pillars.

The EuroMatch NPFL season also begins against the backdrop of significant changes in Nigerian football administration. These developments follow the mass resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and members of the federation’s Executive Committee.

The Nigeria Football Federation has instructed the appointed chairmen, directors and chief executive officers of the NPFL, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and Nationwide League One to step aside.

The affected officials will hand over responsibilities to the chief operating officers of their respective leagues. Where a league’s COO is not an NFF staff member, the Acting General Secretary will appoint a new COO from within the federation.

The NFF said, “These interim measures are intended to ensure continuity in the administration of Nigerian football during the transition and pending conclusion of engagements with FIFA, CAF, Government and stakeholders to design a roadmap towards the comprehensive reforms envisaged for the game and the next steps for activation.”

With a new commercial partnership, a record league prize and changes within the football administration, the EuroMatch NPFL season begins with plenty of attention on and off the pitch.

Which club do you expect to make the strongest start to the new NPFL season?