Time out for Nigerian league football

October 24, 2009

The Nigerian Premier League (NPL) has been put on hold after five weeks of action as a result of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which the country will host beginning Saturday.

The NPL’s head of competitions, Tunji Babalola, announced that the league will resume on November 18, three days after the final of the international tournament whichy opens with the host team taking on Germany at the Abuja National Stadium.

The other Group A match is between Argentina and Honduras.

Officials disclosed that world ruling body FIFA have taken over all the eight stadiums designated for the tournament, meaning that several league clubs can therefore not host their home games at suitable venues.

Kaduna clubs, Ranchers Bees and Kaduna United, have already had to play their home matches away from the northern Nigeria city after their usual home ground, the Ranch Bees Stadium, was picked as a training facility for the U-17 World Cup.

Kaduna United played their opening matches in Gusau, while newly-promoted Ranch Bees settled for the Sabon Gari Township Stadium in Kano.

LAGOS (AFP)

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