The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Youth League for the 2023/2024 season is set to kick off, with the youth teams of the twenty NPFL clubs participating.
The tournament will begin with zonal qualifiers, and teams will arrive at their designated centers for the qualifiers from January 30, with the kickoff scheduled for February 1, 2024.
Pastor Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of the Youth League Committee, revealed that a screening exercise will precede the start of the tournament on January 31, ensuring proper documentation of players.
He said “We want to get it right at building a stronger NPFL through setting up a proper Youth League culture which is the future of elite leagues all over the world.
“I can tell you that we are all set for the start of the Youth League season and are looking forward to a very healthy competition.
“It must be reiterated that participation is compulsory for all 20 NPFL Clubs as there would serious consequences for any club that fails to be part of this”, Inyama said.
The 20 NPFL clubs have been zoned regionally for the preliminary qualifying matches, with five centers hosting the matches. The centers are Lafia for North Central clubs, Kaduna for Northwest and Northeast clubs, Ekiti for Southwest clubs, Enugu for Southeast clubs, and Port Harcourt for South-South clubs.
Matches at each center are scheduled to commence at 8 am and conclude at noon. Inyama expressed the committee’s commitment to building a stronger NPFL through the establishment of a proper Youth League culture, emphasizing the importance of youth development in football.
The Nigeria Premier Football Youth League is seen as a crucial element in nurturing young talents and providing a pathway for players to progress to the elite level. The initiative aims to contribute to the overall development of Nigerian football by investing in youth development programs.
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