Sports

IMC Holds Draw For 2022/2023 NPFL, As battle begins January 8

Published

2 years ago

December 28, 2022

The Gleamer

…Domestic league to witness turn around – Elegbeleye

…. NPFL champion to take home N100m

Joel Ajayi

Despite many challenges confronting Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL, the Interim Management Committee, IMC, said it’s leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the inherent benefit of the Policy is actualized for the development of our domestic football league.

The Chairman of IMC, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye stated this at the conducting of the Draw for the 2022/2023 NPFL new League Season on Wednesday, in Abuja, as approved by the Nigeria Football Federation.

The 20 NPFL teams were calibrated into two different groups for the purpose of the abridged League season, already approved by the NFF.

“Today’s event is historic and another remarkable milestone, credited to the Nigeria Football Federation and relevant football stakeholders in Nigeria, our aim is to empower and support our esteemed footballers to excel in their chosen career.

The Interim Management Committee was inaugurated on October 21, 2022, by the Nigeria Football Federation with the following Terms of Reference.

The IMC is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the inherent benefit of the Policy is actualized for the development of our domestic football league.

Speaking on the prize for the winner, Former NSC Chairman Elegbeleye said:

“The champion of NPFL 2022/23 season will smile home with N100m as prize money

He noted that the IMC has secured lofty sponsorship deals for the league, which will definitely add to the fortunes of the Nigerian league in the new season.

According to him, IMC will ensure that the season is hitch-free of violence, thuggery and other vices that can bring the game to disrepute and any club that breaks the law through acts of violence will not be fined N500,000.00 as was witnessed in the past, but three points will be deducted from the team.

“We have secured sponsors for the NPFL and we are glad to announce that the team that will emerge as winners of the league will earn N100m prize money.

“This is a new beginning in the NPFL. The prize money for last season was N50m but this time, it has been increased by 100% and that is very commendable.

“We also have it in good authority that the winner of the NPFL last season has not been paid the prize money of N50m. This will never happen under this dispensation”.

At the draw, twenty teams were grouped in two different groups for the abridged 2022/23 season expected to kick off on January 8, 2023.

The Full Draws:

MATCHDAY 1 (A)

Nasarawa United Vs Enyimba FC

Akwa United Vs Bendel Insurance

Plateau United Vs Shooting Stars

Kwara United Vs Gombe United

Remo Stars Vs El-Kanemi Warriors

MATCHDAY 1 (B)

Bayelsa United Vs Dakkada FC

Wikki Tourists Vs Niger Tornadoes

Doma United Vs Sunshine Stars

Rivers United Vs Lobi Stars

Rangers Int’l Vs Abia Warriors

Share on Facebook

Sports

NLO’s Shola Ogunowo Earns Praise for Driving Grassroots Football and Exemplifying Integrity

Published

2 hours ago

June 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Nigerian football community has lauded Mr. Shola Ogunowo, Chief Operating Officer of the Nationwide League One (NLO), for his unwavering commitment to integrity and the development of grassroots football, earning him widespread respect and admiration across the sporting landscape.

In a statement released in Abuja and signed by Okechukwu Okebugwu, Mr. Ogunowo was praised as a transformative leader who has redefined the ethics and standards of football administration at the grassroots level. According to the release, Ogunowo has emerged as a “leading figure in the fight against match-fixing, bribery, and all forms of corruption” that have plagued the lower tiers of Nigerian football for decades.

Through consistent enforcement of transparency, fairness, and accountability, Mr. Ogunowo is steering the NLO toward becoming a credible platform where talent can be discovered and nurtured based on merit, rather than manipulation or favoritism.

“In an environment where shortcuts and compromises are all too common, Shola Ogunowo has remained a pillar of integrity,” Okebugwu stated. “He is restoring credibility to grassroots football by ensuring that fair play, discipline, and professionalism are non-negotiable.”

Since taking over as COO, Ogunowo has spearheaded a number of structural reforms aimed at instilling discipline and operational excellence among participating clubs. These include stricter licensing requirements, performance audits, and compliance monitoring to ensure clubs uphold the league’s code of conduct. His administration has also emphasized youth development, with a renewed focus on coaching education and player welfare.

The result is a reinvigorated Nationwide League One that is beginning to attract renewed attention from fans, corporate sponsors, and local communities. Observers say Ogunowo’s leadership is helping reshape perceptions of grassroots football—not just as a stepping stone to the elite leagues, but as a vital foundation for the future of Nigerian football.

“His leadership is not only impacting the pitch—it’s rebuilding trust, creating real value, and setting a good standard for sports administration in Nigeria,” Okebugwu concluded.

As the NLO season progresses, many stakeholders believe that with figures like Shola Ogunowo at the helm, the future of grassroots football in Nigeria is not only secure, but promising.

Share on Facebook