NPFL Vows Stricter Discipline and More Excitement as Second Stanza Kicks Off

Posted : 03 January 2026

As the 2025/2026 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) prepares to resume for its second stanza this Wednesday, league chairman Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye expressed confidence that the competition will feature better organisation, stricter conduct, and a more exciting run-in.

Taking stock of the season at the halfway mark, Elegbeleye acknowledged that while the first stanza delivered encouraging progress, it also exposed areas requiring urgent correction—particularly crowd control and fan behaviour at some venues.

The NPFL boss described the opening 19 matchdays as largely successful, noting that the league met expectations in terms of fixtures, participation, and competitiveness across the states.

“We’ve had our fair share of positives and challenges,” Elegbeleye said. “It has been encouraging overall, though not without flaws. What matters is that we’ve identified those gaps, and we are determined to fix them going into the second stanza.”

A major low point, according to the chairman, was the sanction imposed on Kano Pillars following incidents of crowd misconduct, which led to a three-point deduction—an outcome he described as unfortunate but unavoidable.

“Sanctions are never what we wish for, but rules must be applied fairly,” he stated. “Kano Pillars are a big club with massive support and a respected figure like Ahmed Musa in their fold. That alone should inspire better behaviour from the fans.”

Elegbeleye stressed that such incidents detract from the strong visual appeal and growing credibility of the domestic league, especially at iconic venues like Sani Abacha Stadium, renowned for its passionate atmosphere.

Despite the setbacks, the NPFL chairman highlighted encouraging trends from the first stanza, including a rise in away victories, which he believes reflects growing balance and competitiveness among clubs.

“We want a league where any team can win anywhere,” he said. “Seeing more away wins is a sign that teams are becoming braver and more organised. That’s the kind of football we want to promote.”

With lessons learned from the opening half of the season, Elegbeleye is optimistic that the second stanza will deliver improved officiating, better fan conduct, and higher-quality football, as the NPFL pushes toward a strong and credible finish to the 2025/2026 campaign.

NPFL Vows Stricter Discipline and More Excitement as Second Stanza Kicks Off

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