NFF, NPFL Kick Off Jos Pre-Season Tournament Ahead of CAF Campaigns

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have launched a pre-season tournament in Jos, Plateau State, to help Nigeria's continental representatives sharpen their preparations ahead of the CAF club competitions.

NPFL Chief Operating Officer Prince Davidson Owumi explained that the tournament was necessary because the domestic league season begins only days before the continental fixtures, leaving clubs with limited time to build competitive match fitness and cohesion. The initiative is therefore designed to give participating teams meaningful competitive exposure before they begin their demanding continental campaigns.

NPFL champions Rangers International, runners-up Rivers United and Federation Cup winners El-Kanemi Warriors headline the participating teams, alongside Plateau United and Mighty Jets, who received wild-card invitations as representatives of the host state. Katsina United were also added to the competition at short notice after replacing Shooting Stars.

The tournament format guarantees the continental representatives four competitive matches from the round-robin stage through the final, providing valuable opportunities to assess players, refine tactics and improve team cohesion.

The competition began on Wednesday, with Rivers United, Plateau United, El-Kanemi Warriors and Mighty Jets featuring in the opening fixtures, while Thursday's schedule included El-Kanemi Warriors against Katsina United and a meeting between Rangers and Rivers United.

The NFF also played a key role in securing the support of the Plateau State Government, according to Owumi, who urged the clubs to maximize the tournament as part of their preparations. The final is scheduled for Sunday, August 23, with all matches taking place at the New Jos Township Stadium.