NANPF Annual General Meeting, Key Decisions Ahead.

The National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) is set to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) via online platform ZOOM, due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the 29th of August, 2020.

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In a communique signed by the Secretary of the Union, Austin Popo and released on Wednesday 15th of July, 2020, the AGM which is expected to be attended by all members of the National Adminstrative Council (NAC), NANPF States Chairmen and Secretaries, Clubs Captains of the NPFL, NNL and NWPFL and invited associates and partners of NANPF who would be serving as observers is expected to witness making lot of key decisions for the way forward of the Union.

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Amongst other agenda for the AGM will be suspension or expulsion of members (if applicable), activity Report ( containing the activities of the Union since the last General Assembly, presentation of the consolidated Balance Sheet and Profit and loss Statement.

Also, the approval of the financial Statement, approval of the Budget and admission of Members (if applicable) would also be looked into.

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Meanwhile, the votes on proposals for the amendment of the Statutes, the regulations governing the application of the Statutes and the standing orders of the General Assembly (if applicable), discussion of Proposals submitted by the members and the National Adminstrative Council (NAC), dismissal of a Person or Body (if applicable) will also be on the agenda for the day.

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NANPF is at this stage in one of the most crucial stage if its history are they are focused on maintaining orderliness and adamant on the NFF putting the welfare of members into full consideration and implementation.

Set Up Players Status Committee Now! NANPF To NFF

In the wake of incessant sacking of Players and Coaches and the non payment of players and coaches wages by some clubs in Nigerian football leagues, the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) has dragged the President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Pinnick to the House Committee on Sports of the two Chambers of the National Assembly of Nigeria and Ministry of Sports in a bid to have them set up the Players Status Committee.

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In a letter dated Monday 13th July, 2020 exclusive to Platinum News, the Union is urging the the two Chambers and the Minister for Sports and Youth Development, Hon. Sunday Dare to use their offices in calling the NFF to order

“We wish to notify you that the Nigeria Players Union has written to draw the attention of the Nigeria Football Federation to the ongoing incessant sacking of Players and Coaches, plus the non payment of players and coaches wages by some clubs in our Leagues hinged on the impact of the Covid19 Pandemic”

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The letter, signed by the Secretary General of the Union, Austin Popo on behalf of the President, Tijani Babangida (MON), also reiterate the Union stand on telling the Football Federation to follow the thread of other federations across the world by disclosing the total amount of monies the Federation has disbursed to the Clubs from the FIFA palliative fund to avoid any form of diversions of the monies by the clubs and also ensure accountability, integrity and transparency (NFF inclusive) amongst others in line with global best practices.

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“We request you with all due respect to use your good office in ensuring that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) respond positively to our request, by doing the needful for the sake of accountability, integrity, transparency, Industrial peace and harmony”.

NFF Ends Leagues, September/October Tentative Date for New Leagues

Fowing resolutions passed at an online meeting of the NFF Football Committee, which had in attendance the Chairpersons of all the National Leagues and the President of the Nigeria Referees Association, the Executive Committee of the NFF has, after a holistic consideration of all the issues affecting the leagues (including the status of the leagues before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic), the impact of the pandemic-induced disruptions, the health, safety and movement restrictive measures in the country, the potential protocols for football resumption, the costs, the financial status of the leagues and clubs, CAF calendar and resolutions of the various leagues as conveyed to the NFF, approved the following:

1. NPFL

The league ends at current Matchday 25 and the Points Per Game (PPG) table will be used to rank the teams in order to ensure sporting merit and sporting fairness. The names of the Top 3 (three) clubs on the NPFL final PPG table as at Matchday 25 shall be submitted to CAF to represent Nigeria in the 2020/2021 CAF Inter – Club competitions (2 slots for CAF Champions League and 1 Slot for CAF Confederation Cup). There will be no promotion to, or relegation from, NPFL for the 2019/2020 season.

The NPFL 2020/2021 season will start from September/October 2020 and end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities.

2. The NNL

The NNL 2019/2020 season which is at Match day 3 – 5 and has been on break since December 17, 2019 is cancelled, null and void.

There will be no promotion to, or relegation, from NNL. The NNL 2020/2021 season will start from September/October 2020 and end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities.

The NFF will work with the NNL, the participating clubs and other stakeholders to ensure a successful fresh start from September/October 2020. This will include a review of the NNL structure to optimize its development.

3. NWFL

The yet-to-commence NWFL 2019/2020 season is aborted. The NWFL 2020/2021 to start from September/October 2020 and end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities.

4. NLO

The yet to commence NLO 2019/2020 Season aborted. There will be no promotion to or relegation from NLO. The NLO 2020/2021 season will start from September/October 2020 to end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities.

AITEO CUP

The AITEO Cup 2019/2020 which had only commenced at the State level is aborted. The 2019 AITEO Cup Winners to be presented to CAF for the 2020/2021 CAF Inter-Club competition (Nigeria’s 2nd slot in the CAF Confederation Cup), reserved for Federation Cup winners.

The AITEO CUP 2020/2021 season to start from September/October 2020 to end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities. All dates for the 2020/2021season to start are subject to the directives of the Federal Government in line with COVID-19 protocols.

In addition, the full enforcement of licensing regulations and financial controls for the NPFL will commence from the 2020/2021 season. All clubs are required to comply, failing which they will be barred from participating.

The Nigeria Football Federation will formally take the resolutions to the next General Meeting of its Congress for ratification. In the meantime, these resolutions have been formally communicated to the Federal Ministry of Youth & Social Development.

NFF COMM DEPARTMENT