With Matchday 35 completed without a single outstanding fixture, Nigerian football coaches have given the NPFL board and NFF their most public endorsement in years, praising the administration for structural and operational improvements that have transformed this season.
The Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA) has publicly commended the Nigeria Premier Football League board, led by Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, and the Nigeria Football Federation for what it described as significant administrative progress during the 2025/2026 NPFL season. The statement, released as the league enters its final three matchdays, pointed to the completion of Matchday 35 with no outstanding fixtures as a concrete marker of the discipline and improved planning that have defined this campaign.
For coaches working within the league, the scheduling consistency has been one of the most tangible improvements. Previous NPFL seasons were repeatedly disrupted by postponements, fixture backlogs, and a calendar that frequently clashed with continental commitments. The NFCA specifically highlighted the league’s adherence to a schedule aligned with CAF competition dates as a notable structural advancement. Fans wanting to follow the title race action can use the Bet9ja promotion code ahead of the remaining three matchdays.
What the NFCA Praised Specifically
The coaches’ body offered detailed recognition across several areas. On the administrative side, the NFCA praised the NPFL board’s leadership in managing sensitive operational issues without compromising competitive integrity, pointing to a more proactive approach to problem-solving compared to previous seasons. The NFF’s oversight role was also acknowledged, particularly its focus on developing coaching standards and improving both the performance and welfare of match officials.
On the field, the NFCA observed a rise in competitive quality. With the title race and the relegation battle both unresolved heading into the final stages, the 2025/2026 season has delivered a level of sustained drama across the table that reflects a league in better health than it was even two or three seasons ago. The coaches’ statement framed all of this as evidence that the structural changes introduced by the current administration are already producing visible results. Supporters following the standings can check Bet9ja’s promo code today before staking on the final rounds.
Context: The NPFL Board’s Tenure and Reforms
The NFF extended the mandates of the NPFL, NNL, and NLO boards until September 2026 in July 2025, aligning their tenure with NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau‘s own term. That extension came with explicit praise from the NFF for the boards’ performance and a call for continued innovation. The 2025/2026 NPFL season opened with prize money set at 200 million naira for the champions, alongside improvements in stadium licensing standards and a broadcasting deal with IMG/JVco that has delivered wider coverage than any previous arrangement.
The positive assessment from the NFCA arrives at a moment when public pressure on Nigerian football governance is running high. The Reform Our Football coalition announced a nationwide protest this week demanding NFF leadership changes, while several former players including Godwin Okpara and Sam Sodje have separately called for structural reforms at federation level. The NFCA’s statement draws a deliberate distinction between the domestic league administration, which it considers to be moving in the right direction, and the broader NFF governance questions that remain contested. New Bet9ja users who want to bet on the final NPFL fixtures can find full details at Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code page before registering.
📌 Did You Know?
- The NPFL 2025/2026 season is the first in several years to reach Matchday 35 without a single outstanding fixture, a milestone that highlights the scheduling discipline the NFCA specifically credited to the Elegbeleye-led board.
- The NPFL prize money for the 2025/2026 champions was set at 200 million naira, reflecting a significant increase from previous seasons and part of a broader effort to make the league more financially attractive to clubs and players.
- Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL board chairman, previously served in Ogun State governance before his appointment to lead the league body, bringing an administrative background distinct from the football officials who typically occupy such roles in Nigeria.
- The NPFL’s broadcasting partnership with IMG/JVco represents the most comprehensive domestic coverage deal in the league’s history, with matches distributed across television channels and digital platforms in a way that previous arrangements did not match.
- The Nigeria Football Coaches Association represents professional and semi-professional coaches at all levels of the Nigerian football pyramid, from top-flight NPFL coaches down to academy and grassroots-level practitioners.
- Two NPFL clubs, Kano Pillars and Kwara United, received point and goal deductions during the 2025/2026 season due to match violence incidents, demonstrating the NPFL board’s willingness to impose sanctions that previous administrations were often reluctant to apply.
- The 2025/2026 NPFL season features newly promoted clubs Kun Khalifat and Barau FC, expanding the competitive base of Nigerian top-flight football and reflecting the pyramid-building the league administration has been pursuing.
