Nigeria Premier League 2013/2014 to commence February 21 – LMC

Some matches will be played on Friday to allow for more television coverage

The League Management Company, LMC, on Tuesday announced that the 2013/14 Glo Nigeria Premier League, NPL, will kick off onFebruary 21, 2014.

The new kick off date was arrived at after NPL club representatives
and the LMC met for several hours on Monday to iron out the hitherto knotty issue.

Aside picking the start date for the League, the club representatives and the LMC also agreed on having matches played on Friday to allow for more television coverage.

Before the latest development, the new season had been delayed by a number of issues, including a stand-off between the Nduka Irabor led LMC, and club managers over the company’s running of the competition.

To herald the new season, the LMC also announced a pre-season tourney to involve the League’s top four finishers in the last campaign.

The League champions, Kano Pillars, and Enyimba, who will both represent Nigeria in CAF Champions League, will be joined by Bayelsa United, who will feature in the CAF Confederation Cup, and fourth-placed El Kanemi for the Super Four tourney.

Though the LMC is yet to make an official statement on whether the league will retain its 38 weeks format, sources hinted that the regular format will still be adhered to while a break will be observed during the World Cup in Brazil.