Eguma Applauds NPFL Board for Matching EPL Calendar

Enyimba head coach Stanley Eguma has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for aligning the league’s calendar with that of the English Premier League (EPL), marking a significant milestone for the domestic game.

For the first time in decades, the NPFL season will officially conclude on the same day as the EPL Sunday, May 25, 2025. Eguma praised the Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye-led NPFL board for their strategic effort in resolving the long-standing scheduling inconsistencies that have plagued Nigerian football for years.

“This is a massive lift for our league,” Eguma said. “We never had it so good. It’s a huge credit to Honourable Elegbeleye and his team. Ending the NPFL on the same day as the EPL means our league is now running on a globally recognised timeline.”

Eguma, nicknamed ‘Capelo’, stressed the benefits of the synchronised calendar players will have time to rest, referees can evaluate their performance, and coaches can regroup and implement fresh strategies ahead of the next season.

He also urged the league administrators to ensure clubs are given adequate time to prepare for the new season, warning that a lack of proper recovery and planning time could derail the progress made.

Reflecting on Enyimba’s season, Eguma admitted that their top-three hopes were over, but vowed to approach their final match against Plateau United with professionalism and pride.

“We’ll go into the last game with the same never say die spirit. Three points will boost our final tally and bring joy to our loyal supporters,” he concluded.

Editorial

When a local football league takes a bold step toward global alignment, it’s not just a scheduling change — it’s a cultural shift. What the NPFL board has done under Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye is nothing short of transformative, and Stanley Eguma’s words should resonate across the Nigerian football landscape.

For too long, erratic calendars and administrative bottlenecks have held back the NPFL’s credibility, both at home and abroad. Clubs struggled to plan. Players juggled exhaustion and uncertainty. And fans? They were left confused and disconnected.

Now, we see a light a step toward predictability, professionalism, and progress. Aligning with the EPL calendar doesn’t just streamline logistics it boosts commercial appeal, facilitates better participation in CAF competitions, and offers players a clearer rhythm for peak performance.

Eguma is right to call for continuity. This isn’t a one-off achievement — it must become a standard. Let’s ensure the off-season is respected, that clubs regroup with enough time, and that match officials and coaches return refreshed and ready.

We mustn’t treat this as a tick-box success. It’s a foundation. And if we build on it wisely, the NPFL can finally move from promise to power.

Did You Know?

1. The NPFL has historically struggled with calendar irregularities, often concluding seasons months apart from global leagues.
2. Enyimba FC are Nigeria’s most successful club in continental football, having won the CAF Champions League twice (2003 and 2004).
3. Coach Stanley Eguma is one of the longest-serving tacticians in Nigerian club football, with over two decades of top-flight experience.
4. Aligning with the EPL calendar also supports better scouting and player transfer coordination for Nigerian players heading abroad.
5. The last time the NPFL concluded in May before 2025 was over 15 years ago, highlighting how overdue this reform was.