By Femi Atolagbe
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Chairman of league’s Interim Management Committee (IMC)Mr Gbenga Elegbeleye has said the body won’t allow any team to enjoy undue advantage ahead of the Lagos Super 6.
Elegbeleye in a release by the media department of IMC said this informed the decision of the body to rejig the fixtures of match day 18.
“The season ending Super 6 will hold in Lagos and we don’t want any Group to enjoy the advantage of extended rest period after playing their last group games,” Elegbeleye said.
Going by the new arrangement, all MatchDay 18 fixtures will now be decided May 21.
In a letter informing the NPFL Clubs of the fixture rearrangement, the IMC also noted that Federation Cup games of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have also impacted the commencement of the Super 6 start date.
While regretting the disruption to the schedule of the clubs, the IMC said it has however afforded the league a window to harmonise the fixtures of the regular season end matches.
The IMC Chairman clarified that the decision was to ensure that the regular season is concluded on the same date before the commencement of the Super 6.
“The MatchDay 18 fixtures in both Groups will have to be played on the same date and that would be after Rivers United have completed their outstanding matches by Thursday, May 18“, Elegbeleye added.
Outstanding matches involving Rivers United are MatchDay 12, 15 and 16 which have been scheduled for May 11, May 15 and May 18.
The defending Champions whose fixtures were affected by their CAF Confederation Cup campaign will play Sunshine Stars on Monday, May 15 in a rescheduled MatchDay 12 tie and Doma United on Thursday, May 18. Both games are in Port Harcourt.
