By Amaechi Agbo

The Nigeria Football Federation Friday confirmed the cancellation of the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL and approved the adoption of Point Per Game to determine CAF inter-club competitions representatives, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

The resolution to terminate the league which was at matchday 25 was due to the ravaging novel COVID-19 as well as the voting by 17 club owners few weeks ago to end the league as it stands and use PPG to decide CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup representatives.

Following resolutions passed at an online meeting of the NFF Football Committee, which had in attendance the Chairpersons of all the National Leagues and the President of the Nigeria Referees Association, the Executive Committee of the NFF has, after a holistic consideration of all the issues affecting the leagues (including the status of the leagues before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic), the impact of the pandemic-induced disruptions, the health, safety and movement restrictive measures in the country, the potential protocols for football resumption, the costs, the financial status of the leagues and clubs, CAF calendar and resolutions of the various leagues as conveyed to the NFF,  approved the cancellation of the league.

This is the second time in three years the NFF and League Management Company, LMC are terminating the NPFL midway. In 2017/2018 season, the league was abandoned at matchday 24 with then league leaders, Lobi United declared champions.

In cancelling the 2019/2020 season Friday, NFF noted that the league ends at current Matchday 25 and the Points Per Game (PPG) table will be used to rank the teams in order to ensure sporting merit and sporting fairness. Adding that there will be no relegation from nor promotion to the league in the 2020/2021 season.

The NFF also resolved that the 2020/2021 season will tentatively start in September or October 2020 depending on the federal ministry of health’s decision to reopen sporting activities in the country.

“The names of the Top 3 (three) clubs on the NPFL final PPG table as at Matchday 25 shall be submitted to CAF to represent Nigeria in the 2020/2021 CAF Inter – Club competitions (2 slots for CAF Champions League and 1 Slot for CAF Confederation Cup).

“There will be no promotion to, or relegation from, NPFL for the 2019/2020 season.

“The NPFL 2020/2021 season will start from September/October 2020 and end May 2021 subject to the full reopening of the country and the approval of the health authorities,” a release on Friday said.