Date: 2020-11-01

The League Management Company has approved 13 stadiums for the 2020/21 Nigeria Professional Football League season.

In a memo sent by the LMC to clubs on Friday, which was seen by our correspondent, the league body said the 13 approved stadiums were the ones okayed to host NPFL games in the new season.

The approved stadiums are Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos; Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo; Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin; Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba; Okigwe Township Stadium; Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi and Pantami Stadium, Gombe.

Others are Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi; Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna; Enyimba Stadium, Aba; Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina and Ilorin Township Stadium.

The LMC also listed 11 other stadiums as needing various forms of upgrade or repairs, while two stadia were listed for "complete remodelling and reconstruction".

The stadiums listed by the LMC for upgrade or repairs are Umuahia Township Stadium; Dutse Township Stadium; Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano; Agege Stadium; Akure Stadium; Warri City Stadium; New Jos Stadium; Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu; Lafia Township Stadium; Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium, Nnewi and Fufure Stadium, Yola.

"The stadiums listed for upgrade or repair require relaying of new playing surfaces (pitches), provision of floodlights, TV camera platforms, upgrade of changing rooms, additional exit & entry gates among others," the LMC said.

Umuahia Township Stadium and Dutse Township Stadium were the two stadiums the LMC should undergo complete remodelling and reconstruction.

The LMC asked clubs who play in the 11 stadia listed for upgrade to complete them before the start of the new season or choose any of the approved 13 stadia for their home games.

The PUNCH had reported that the Nigeria Football Federation approved that the new NPFL season "can resume anytime from November 15."

This came after the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 approved the resumption of contact sports at its press briefing October 15.