Lobi Stars emerges NPFL champions


The Pride of Benue have emerge winners after the Nigerian topflight season was brought to end at despite with 14 games left to play
Lobi Stars have emerged as champions of the 2017-18 Nigeria Professional Football League season with only 14 games left to play.


The League Management Company and clubs in a meeting on Friday reached a consensus to end the league season after 24 games due to the worries of meeting the October 15 deadline of the Confederation of African Football for submission of its representatives for club competitions.


In a statement, the LMC explained that the congested league fixtures, the Federation Cup and Enyimba’s Caf Confederation Cup campaign before reaching the unanimous agreement, which was consequently ratified by the Nigeria Football Federation.


Based on several decisions reached, the Pride of Benue will be the nation’s lone flagbearer in next year’s Caf Champions League, having finished top of the log with 43 points from 24 games.


It further disclosed that no team will be relegated from the just concluded season, while four teams will be admitted from the Nigeria National League for the new 2018/2019 season.

“Upon consideration of different options (5 possible options were presented), it was unanimously agreed by the 20 NPFL Clubs, that the 2017/2018 season of the NPFL is deemed concluded and the team at the top of the standings – Lobi Stars shall be the representative in the CAF Champions League for 2019 Session starting Nov 2018 to May 2019,” the statement read.


“No team shall be relegated from the NPFL for 2018 Season. Four Teams shall be promoted to the NPFL from the Nigeria National League (NNL) from the ongoing 2018 season to compete in the 2018/2019 NPFL season.
“The 2018/2019 NPFL season will commence in November 2018 with a total of 24 participating teams, which shall be divided into two groups of 12 teams each. The 2018/2019 Season commencing November 2018 will be played on 22 Match days ending with a Playoff to determine the Winner by May 2019.


“Three teams from each group (a total of six) will be relegated from the NPFL after the conclusion of the 2018/2019 season, while two teams will be promoted to the NPFL from the NNL 2019 Season. This will allow the NPFL to revert to its normal structure of 20 teams as from the 2019/2020 season.



“The NFF have also endorsed for the 2019 FEDERATION CUP to commence from September 2018 to end October 14, 2018. The NPFL Teams would be seeded for the CUP competition and the Winner to represent Nigeria in the 2019 CAF Confederation Cup starting November 2019.



The LMC further buttressed its decision to terminate the league season, citing the basis of Rule B15.23 of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL that states:“Any matter unforeseen or not provided for or, conflict in the interpretation and application of these Rules, shall be dealt with by the LMC as the circumstances require, having regards to the interest of fairness, good sportsmanship and the overall interest of the game of football.



“On the strength of Rule B15.23, the relevant provisions in respect of the competition fixtures, particularly contained in Rules A2 (league structure) and A3 (the competition) were suspended. 
In addition, several factors were duly considered, including the effect of a compressed schedule on the health and well-being of players, need to meet the CAF deadlines of October 15, 2018, and the proposed commencement of the 2019 NPFL Season from November 2018 to end in May 2019 so as to align the NPFL Calendar to August/May instead of the January/November.”

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