NPFL to Introduce VAR in 2025-2026 Season

The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) is set to take a significant leap forward with the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the upcoming 2025-2026 season.

This was announced by NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, at the Annual General Meeting and Official 2025/2026 Season NPFL Draws ceremony held at the Abuja Continental Hotel on Monday.

“We have selected some referees to go for training in Morocco to learn and understand how VAR works,” Elegbeleye disclosed.

The NPFL Chairman noted that the General Secretary of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has mandated every club to make necessary provisions for the introduction of VAR in various match centres.

Elegbeleye reiterated that the NPFL has taken steps to improve the standard of officiating in the league.

“You would notice that referees are no longer being owed by the league. That is a good step in raising the standard of officiating in the league,” he said.

Persecondnews correspondent, who covered the ceremony reports that the NPFL Chairman also hinted at the possibility of increasing the prize money for the upcoming season.

“We have paid Remo Stars their cash prize and we are looking at the possibility of an increased cash prize if we get good sponsors.”

The league has consistently increased the prize money over the years, from N100 million in the 2022-2023 season to N200 million in the current season.

Elegbeleye disclosed that the NPFL’s attention goes beyond winning the league, saying,”You can’t blame clubs who go to the continent and fail, they don’t have strong finance backup neither do they have sponsorship deals.

“It’s quite hard, and the attention of the NPFL is beyond winning the league, we need to maintain a certain level of dominance in the continent. This can only be achieved if clubs have good sponsorship deals.’

The 2025-2026 NPFL season is set to kick off with a thrilling encounter between defending champions Remo Stars and former league winners Rivers United.

The blockbuster match will see the current title holders host the 2021-2022 season champions, Rivers United at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.

This mouth-watering fixture promises to be an exciting start of the new season, with both teams looking to make a strong statement.