The Chairman of the NPFL board, Gbenga Elegbeleye, announced a 33.3% increase in prize money for the 2024-25 Nigeria League Champions and a start date of August 31, 2024, for the new season during the Annual General Meeting of the board and club owners on Tuesday in Abuja.
In his statement, Mr. Gbenga said that, in a bid to improve the league, the best coaches and players will receive N1 million each.
Enugu Rangers, after breaking a 16-year jinx to lift their first title, received 150 million as prize money for the title victory. The NPFL board has now increased this by 33.3% from 150 million to 200 million for the 2024-25 Champions.
Match week one fixtures were released, with the Flying Antelopes beginning their title defense against FA Cup Champions El Kanemi Warriors in the first game of the season slated for Saturday, August 31, while other tiers will feature the next weekend.
“When we came on board, we discovered that the prize money for the league winner was N50 million, which they never got. We promised to increase it, and we paid N100 million in our first season and N150 million last season,” Elegbeleye said.
“Next season, the winner will get 200 million, and the award of N1 million each to the best player and coach is to encourage the players and coaches.
“We want Nigeria’s football system to have a new look for people to have confidence in us. We want to inject money into the league so that players will not run to smaller countries to start looking for clubs to play for.
“We want them to stay at home so our best legs will be here, we will pay them well, and we can have more players in the Super Eagles from the league.”
Full Match Week 1 Fixtures:
Abia Warriors vs. Remo Stars
Beyond Limits vs. Enyimba
Rangers vs. El Kanemi Warriors
Lobi Stars vs. Akwa Utd
Kwara Utd vs. Niger Tornadoes
Bendel Insurance vs. Rivers Utd
Kano Pillars vs. Ikorodu City FC
Sunshine Stars vs. Bayelsa Utd
Nasarawa Utd vs. Shooting Stars
Plateau Utd vs. Katsina Utd.
