IMC confirms Super Six play-off to hold in Lagos May 19

The Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) has confirmed that 2022/23 season-ending Super Six Playoff will hold at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos on May 19.

According to IMC Head of Operations, Davidson Owumi, the fixture principles have already been articulated with Group A and B winners opening the contest.

“The Group A matches would be concluded on Sunday, May 14 and we are looking forward to having the other two outstanding matches of Rivers United completed within the available windows to ensure that Group B last fixtures are held before the Playoff kickoff date,” Owumi said.

He said an advisory has been communicated to all clubs to put them on notice and getting them to plan their logistics to honour the fixtures as may be announced by the league organisers.

The IMC boss disclosed that Rivers United will play one of their outstanding matches against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi on May 10, adding that new dates for the MatchDay 12 tie against Sunshine Stars and MatchDay 16 against Doma United would be announced in the days ahead.

Owumi assured stakeholders and followers of the NPFL that fixtures would be played as scheduled, except for those already disrupted by Rivers United’s Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) competition games.

“Our fixtures fidelity has been proven from the kickoff and we are working to accommodate Rivers United outstanding games to ensure the season is concluded with minimal blip,” he noted.

He announced that MatchDay 17 will be played this weekend in both groups in line with the calendar and commended Rivers United for reaching the knockout stage of the competition.

“While we work around dates to reschedule outstanding matches of Rivers United, the weekend games will be played as scheduled in the two groups,” he reiterated, adding, “we won’t be distracted by incendiary comments or actions from any quarters.

“Our desire is to see Nigerian clubs go all the way in the competition and this will naturally affect our fixtures just as it does elsewhere. All we need to do is to find acceptable dates that won’t unduly pile pressure on our representatives and that’s what we are going to do in the coming days.”

He acknowledged that the last matches of Group B teams, which include Rivers United, would be completed simultaneously on a date to be announced, while matches of Group A sides will be played as scheduled in the calendar.

“After MatchDay 17, Group B matches would be paused to allow Rivers United complete their backlog and we hope to accomplish this within the month,” the former Nigerian international told IMC Media.