Nigeria football league begins with Plateau United vs. 3SC after many hiccups

In sports, there are some things that are constant. Placing a bet on Kylian Mbappe scoring more than 20 goals in sea ason is a sure bet, that Bayern Munich has a higher chance of winning the German league is surer than Chelsea finishing in the top is equally a sure bet and one can go to the bank believing that Manchester United Harry Maguire will score an own goal.

Gamblers will equally not go wrong betting that the Nigeria Football League will not start nor finish on the date specified by the league governing body, it must be deferred, shifted, postponed, or put on hold.

After plenty of grammar about the need to align the Nigeria football calendar with the global calendar in the last few years, the league board missed the target in the 2023/24 season again.

Slated to start in August, the league will now start this weekend with Plateau United playing 3SC in Ibadan.

Unlike their ordeal when the league was postponed the last time, there was no aborting their trip this time as the Jos-based side will train at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Friday.

Plateau had reached Abuja, on their way to Ibadan on Wednesday, September 6, but had their trip cut short by the indefinite postponement of the league.

The game between both sides is a reversal of one of the match-day one fixtures of last season, which ended 3-3 between both sides at the new Jos Stadium.

Ahead of their meeting in Ibadan, Plateau captain, Daniel Itodo, said they were eager for the commencement of the season.

“The result last season at home showed the character we have as a team. We have learned

from our mistakes throughout the abridged league and we are fully ready for the new campaign.”

Itodo also expressed delight about the streaming of the league via the NPFL Live app.

“It is very very exciting to know that the league will be on TV this season.

It will help the players because the whole world will watch us and it’s good money for the league as well. It will help the league grow,” he said.

Some other match-day one fixtures across the country will see Sunshine Stars host Kano Pillars in Akure, newly promoted side, Sporting Lagos, welcome Gombe United just as Katsina United return to the topflight with a clash against Kwara United.

The games between champions Enyimba and FA Cup champions Bendel Insurance, as well as the clash between Rivers United and Remo Stars, have been postponed due to the continental engagements of Insurance and Rivers.