The commencement of the 2023-2024 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season, initially slated for tomorrow, August 27, has encountered a delay.

The beginning of the new season has been rescheduled from August 27 to September 9, a shift attributed to commercial considerations by Godwin Enakhena, the General Secretary of the NPFL club owners.

While initial speculation suggested that the 20 qualified clubs sought a two-week deferral for the 2023-2024 NPFL season, Enakhena, also overseeing the Lagos-based club Sporting Lagos, clarified that it was the NPFL board that communicated the revised start date to the association.

A statement issued by the NPFL board, under the leadership of Gbenga Elegbeleye, clarified that the two-week postponement was prompted by commercial motives. This delay aims to accommodate the installation, testing, and training of personnel for the newly acquired AI cameras, which will facilitate streaming the league on a digital platform throughout the upcoming NPFL season.

The season's draw, initially planned for today, August 25, has been rescheduled to take place on Tuesday, August 29.

In the midst of these developments, Abdul Maikaba, the newly appointed manager of Kano Pillars, expressed his contentment with the two-week delay. He deemed it a favorable turn for his team, which is rejoining the NPFL after being relegated to the second division in the previous season.

He said, “I think it’s a blessing in disguise for me personally because it gives me ample opportunity to work with my team more because we have a tough task ahead of us primarily to stay up and see if we can finish in the top half of the league.

“If the postponement will give the LMC enough time to put things in place for the growth of the league, I’m in support of it.”