Plateau United start NPFL title defence against Nasarawa United

By Taofeek Babalola

Plateau United will start the defence of their Premier League title with an away game against Nasarawa United when the 2018 season gets underway on January 14.

This was confirmed by the League Management Company (LMC) on Sunday after releasing the fixtures for the forthcoming 2018 Nigeria Professional Football League season in a ceremony conducted at the Bristol Palace Hotel in Kano on Sunday.

The 2018 NPFL Season will run till September 30th 2018.

All the 20 teams have been drawn against each other in a 38 Matchday league season, in which 380 matches will be played in an home and away basis that will run till September 30th 2018.

Next season’s calendar will see Kano Pillars lock horns with its neighbours, Katsina United in Katsina in the matchday one fixture. Akwa United Football Club will kick start its league campaign with a home game against Enugu Rangers.

Another highlight of the opening weekend is MFM’s visit to Umuahia in the game against Abia Warriors. Lobi Stars start out against Enyimba Int’l, while Niger Tornadoes kick-off against newly promoted Kwara United in Ilorin.  

Promoted Go Round FC begins life in the top flight away to Wikki Tourists, with fellow newcomers Yobe Desert Stars and new manager Mohammad Baba Ganaru at FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

Elsewhere on day one, Stanley Eguma tutored side Rivers United host Elkanemi Warriors while Heartland FC face Sunshine Stars in Owerri.

Meanwhile, there will be three midweek matches on match days 2, 4 and 5 while the mid-season break will be from April 30 to May 5 and a longer break for the FIFA World Cup from June 14 to July 15.

Resumption from the World Cup break will be on July 18 and this will be observed with matchday 25 which will be the first of another three mid-week matches in the second stanza of the league. The other two mid-week fixtures will be on matchdays 27 and 29.

 

MATCHDAY ONE

Nasarawa United vs Plateau United

Heartland FC vs Sunshine Stars

Abia Warriors vs MFM FC

Wikki Tourist vs Go Round FC

Lobi Stars vs Enyimba Int’l

Katsina United vs Kano Pillars

Kwara United vs Niger Tornadoes

FC Ifeanyi Ubah vs Yobe Desert Stars

Akwa United vs Enugu Rangers Int’l

Rivers United vs Elkanemi Warriors