NPFL introduces Friday night football from matchday nine
The Nigeria Premier Football League will introduce Friday night kick-offs as part of a new matchday schedule. Early Saturday and Sunday slots will also be added.
The new arrangement begins with the matchday nine fixture between Shooting Stars and Ranchers Bees. It will be played at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Friday, October 16, with kick-off at 6pm.
It will be the second time Shooting Stars host a Friday game this season. They beat Inter Lagos 2-1 in the opening matchday under the lights.
League officials say the change will add variety for supporters, broadcasters and commercial partners. The league has traditionally played most games on weekend afternoons.
Fans are expected to turn out in numbers in Ibadan. The prime-time slot could boost attendance and bring the NPFL closer to scheduling patterns seen in the world’s leading leagues.
The league is also growing commercially. Clubs recently shared the first tranche of a $7.5 million sponsorship fee under the Euromatch deal. Better scheduling and rising investment point to a league trying to win back prime-time attention.
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