The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is raising the bar for all the top-flight clubs this season.

From the 2025/26 campaign, the league has issued fresh rules that could reshape how clubs connect with fans and media, and that’s if they’ll uphold it, Footballrover reports.

The biggest message? Club promotion must be creative—or risk being left behind in the race for visibility and relevance.

NPFL Sets ₦1 Million Fine for Coaches Who Skip Press Duties

During the pre-season seminar in Lafia, the league’s Chief Operating Officer Davison Owumi revealed strict new measures.

Any club whose head coach fails to attend the mandatory post-match press conference will pay a ₦1 million fine.

Owumi stressed that only head coaches—not assistants—will be allowed to face the media. According to him, this aligns with international football standards.

— “Have you ever seen Pep Guardiola send his assistant to handle post-match duties? From now on, it’s strictly the head coach at the press conference,” he said.

NPFL Pushes Clubs to Boost Creativity in Promotion

Beyond fines, the league body is also challenging clubs to rethink their promotion strategies.

NPFL’s Director of Communications, Harry Iwuala, urged media officers to be innovative in how they showcase their teams.

He explained that smart publicity can increase the league’s profile and attract more fans.

Fans to Enjoy New Pre-Match Interviews

In addition, supporters can expect more access this season, as the league management have confirmed that both home and away teams will now give pre-match interviews.

This move is designed to give fans more behind-the-scenes stories and bring them closer to the players and clubs they love.

Hopefully, we get to see clubs keep to these rules, as the message from the league body is clear: fines await teams that ignore these rules, while opportunities abound for those who embrace creativity.

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Last Updated on August 17, 2025 9:04 am by Sir Kris