The Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, is set to introduce Friday night fixtures as part of a revised matchday schedule designed to provide fans with more opportunities to watch top-flight football.
The new arrangement will begin on Matchday Nine with the clash between Shooting Stars and Ranchers Bees at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Friday, October 16. Kick-off is scheduled for 6pm.
The league will also introduce earlier kick-off times for selected Saturday and Sunday matches as the season progresses.
The revised schedule is expected to provide supporters with a more flexible fixture calendar while creating additional opportunities for clubs and commercial partners to engage with fans.
Friday night fixtures could also attract supporters who are unavailable for traditional weekend afternoon matches.
For Shooting Stars, the encounter with Ranchers Bees will be their second home fixture on a Friday this season. The Ibadan-based side previously hosted Inter Lagos on a Friday in the opening matchday, recording a 2-1 victory.
The introduction of more evening fixtures is part of efforts to modernise the NPFL matchday experience and improve the appeal of domestic football.
The league hopes the revised schedule will contribute to stronger stadium attendance and greater fan engagement when the new format begins on October 16.
