Date: 2021-12-12

The League Management Company have deemed the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, Kwara Sports Complex in Ilorin and the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna not fit to host matches in the 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League season.

The League Management Company during their extraordinary General Assembly Meeting on Tuesday approved the December 17 kickoff date for the league.

It will serve as a huge blow for Pillars who had been hoping to return to their traditional ground this season after playing the 2020/21 campaign at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

The artificial turf of the Kano Stadium is in need of remodelling while the Kontagora Stadium, home to Niger Tornadoes needs an all-round refurbishment from the playing pitch to the fans stand.

The teams affected by the LMC decision have been told to look for another venue before the resumption of the league.

There are reports that Kwara United will be opting to hold their matches at the newly refurbished Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Kwara United and Niger Tornadoes are the team to feel an immediate effect of the stadium ban as they have been scheduled to play their first league game of the season at home.

The Harmony Boys are billed to take on Dakkada FC while Tornadoes are scheduled to play Plateau United. Pillars will face Akwa United in their opening game of the season but will entertain Lobi Stars in their matchday two outing.

More stadiums are expected to join the list before the start of the season. A total of 11 league venues were deemed unfit for NPFL games before the start of the 2020/21 league season