NFF cautions NPFL clubs on new licensing rules

The Nigeria Football Federation has told Nigeria Premier Football League clubs to follow club licensing rules before the 2026/27 season. They said there will be strict enforcement of these rules with the support of the National Sports Commission, The PUNCH reports.

The warning came in a statement released after the NFF Executive Committee meeting in Asaba, Delta State, last weekend. The federation praised the NSC for its commitment to help put the licensing rules into action.

"The Executive Committee welcomed the NSC's announcement that it is ready to fully support the NFF for the strict enforcement of the club licensing rules. We will not allow any club to bypass any part of these rules," part of the statement obtained by The PUNCH said.

This renewed push for strict enforcement comes as the NSC introduces major changes to the domestic league.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, recently announced a prize pool of N2.5 billion for the 2026/27 NPFL season. He also suggested raising the minimum salary for players from N150,000 to N2 million to boost the professionalism of the league.

While speaking on the NSC's plans, Director-General Bukola Olopade emphasized their goal to reform Nigerian football through the top league.

"We are determined to reform the league. We are going to reform the league. With President Bola Tinubu and the private sector, the funding we have now has never been seen in Nigerian sports before," Olopade said.

"If we get the league right, we get the national teams right and we set up proper football administration structures."

On the proposed N2 million minimum wage, the NSC Director-General mentioned that these reforms aim to make the local league more competitive and appealing to players.

"We cannot keep seeing our players leave Nigeria for leagues in places like Benin Republic and Vietnam to earn as little as 800 dollars. We must create a professional league that offers the right environment for players to develop and succeed," he said.

The NPFL board has set tentative dates of August 27 to 29 for the start of the 2026/27 season.

According to the approved football calendar, the season will run until May 28, 2027, with fixtures for the President Federation Cup also included as organizers aim to keep a more organized domestic football schedule.