The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Board has taken a significant step towards the revitalization of organized youth football leagues by appointing a seven-member Youth League Committee to oversee the organization of the 2023–24 NPFL Youth League.
The committee will be responsible for ensuring that every NPFL club has a competitive youth team, thus providing a development centre for the upcoming generation of players, particularly at the U-15, U-17, and U-20 levels.
The NPFL Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, announced the committee’s formation on Monday morning, and Pastor Emeka Inyama, a former chairman of the Abia Warriors and a former member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), will serve as the committee’s chairman.
Other members of the committee are ex-international Patrick Paschal, Sabo Abdullahi Eka, Nicholas Morris Kemeghde, Barrister Paul Ede, chairman of the Benue State Football Association, and Gafar Liameed, vice chairman of the Lagos State Football Association and owner of the NNL side 36 Lions.
Dr Sunday Obaseki, head of competitions for the NPFL, will serve as the secretary.
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The NPFL has mandated that every licensed club must have a youth team that will play in the Youth League per the Club Licensing Regulations.
This move is aimed at providing a transition structure to ensure that when some NPFL players get older and others relocate overseas, younger players will be ready to step up and take their place.
The NPFL Youth League will be held during the one-week mid-season break, and the committee will determine the qualifiers for a national championship playoff.
This is a significant move by the NPFL Board, as it not only provides a platform for young players to showcase their skills but also ensures that the future of Nigerian football remains bright.
