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Scathing response as NPFL takes a month-long break to accommodate delayed matches.
In a move that has drawn the ire of Nigerian football fans and media, the Nigerian Premier Football League, NPFL, has announced a month-long break to accommodate the outstanding fixtures of one club, Rivers United.
The decision, which will see the league pause after Matchday 32 this weekend, has been met with scathing criticism from prominent voices in the Nigerian football community.
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Super Eagles interim manager Finidi George has promised that his Enyimba boys will push until the NPFL ends after dropping two points against Sunshine Stars.
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14:38 - 22.04.2024
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NPFL faces backlash
Latifat Adebayo-Ohio, a respected photojournalist, took to social media to express her frustration, posting on X, formerly Twitter: "Somebody, please put this league up on Aliexpress!"
The sarcastic remark underscores the growing discontent with the perceived mismanagement of the domestic league.
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Rivers United, who were recently eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup in the quarterfinals, have no fewer than six outstanding matches that have been rescheduled.
This has led the NPFL to suspend league action for an entire month, with Matchday 33 set to resume on the weekend of May 25th and 26th.
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The decision has sparked a wave of criticism, with many fans and Football League followers questioning the league's priorities and the fairness of accommodating one club's fixtures at the expense of the entire league's schedule.
"This doesn’t make sense at all,” another disappointed fan Alex Ndace wrote on X. “What is this, @LMCNPFL? You’ve got to be kidding us. Not a day passes without the governing body of football in this country hit[sic] us with another low.”
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"How. The whole league on a month break for Rivers?" Another aggrieved fan, Hillary Remy, added amongst other reactions.
The NPFL's move has raised concerns about the potential impact on the league's competitiveness and the fairness of the title race.
With the break coming at a crucial stage of the season, some teams may feel that their momentum and chances of success have been unfairly disrupted.
The NPFL will be under pressure to justify its decision and demonstrate a more coherent and equitable approach to managing the domestic league in the future as lovers and followers of the league continue to voice their displeasure.
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