The 2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will kick
off on Sunday, January 13 with six games already confirmed postponed.

The league has been on break before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and talks to resume had broken down numerously.

However, the league is set to kick off across several venues in the country.

With no team relegated from the previous season, the four promoted teams from the lower division have been established.

Bendel Insurance of Edo State make a return to the first tier of football in Nigeria after 10 years and are joined by Remo Stars of Ogun State from the Southern Conference.

Gombe United and Kada City picked up the Northern Conference tickets from the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 competition.

Four of the postponements in the first league
sets of games come from teams that participated at the NNL Super 8 in
order to recover.

 Bendel Insurance are back in the NPFL [OganlaMedia]

According to Salihu Abubakar, League Management Company (LMC) Chief Operating Officer explained the reason for the postponement.

He said, “The games involving the
promoted clubs from the NNL are being shifted to give the clubs time to
return to their respective bases and make adequate plans to play in the
NPFL.”

“It’s only fair that the players be
allowed time to recover from the rigours of the tournament they just
participated in and they would join from Matchday 2 while a new date
will be announced for the postponed fixtures.”

The other postponement comes as reigning champions Lobi Star begin their CAF Champions League group stage campaign against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Friday, January 11, 2019 .

 Lobi Stars are Nigeria’s sole representative in the CAF Champions League

The final postponement is due to Enugu Rangers final CAF Confederation Cup qualification game away to Bantu FC first leg to be played on Friday, January 11.

other league fixtures are

MATCHDAY 1 (GROUP A)

January 13, 2019

Kwara United vs Sunshine Stars

Enyimba vs MFM FC

MATCHDAY 1 (GROUP B)

Nasarawa United vs Abia Warriors

Plateau United vs FC Ifeanyi Ubah

Kano Pillars vs Heartland

Akwa United vs El-Kanemi Warriors