The Nigerian government through the country’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has announced a new date for the restart of the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
The Minister, Sunday Dare, while answering questions from journalists on Friday said the league will resume on Sunday, December 27, 2020.
He explained that one of the main reasons why the league resumption was delayed was because of the slow pace of compliance by clubs in the newly-introduced club licensing regime.
“I can tell you that even though we have taken so long to start, we are about to start, by the 27th of this month, we hope the professional football league will start,” the minister said.
He further stated that “the point is not a question whether it is Christmas or New Year… let’s just get this started… Many countries will have their athletes in camp during Christmas and New Year and even in this country, we have had the same in the past.
“After this meeting, I am going to have another one with the NFF to examine what we have so far, the details, and other things …. We just need to get started.”
There has been no action in the country’s elite football league for over eight months since the 2019/20 season was abruptly ended on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
After the ban on contact, sports was lifted by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, a tentative date of November 15 was initially suggested before December 6, and 18 also surfaced as the potential start dates for the 2020/21 season.
Nigerian teams playing at the CAF Continental assignments have fumbled with Plateau United and Kano Pillars being dumped at the first rounds.
Sports analysts have however attributed their early exit to the Nigerian League which has not kicked off.