After conducting the drawings for the 2023 Nigeria Professional Football League season NPFL, the Interim Management Committee (IMC) as defending champion Rivers United will open its title defense with a home match against Abia Warriors.

The 2022–23 NPFL Abridged League drawings were held on Wednesday in Abuja. The season will begin on January 8th, 2023, and run until May.

The 20 NPFL clubs were divided into two groups, A and B, with 10 clubs in each. Rather than the traditional North and South groups, both groups contained a mixture of teams from different zones.

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Plateau United, who finished second last year, is in a competitive Group A with teams like Kwara United, Nasarawa United, Gombe United, Enyimba, Akwa United, Shooting Stars, and Remo Stars, as well as recently promoted El-Kanemi Warriors and Bendel Insurance.

Niger Tornadoes, Doma United, Wikki Tourists, Lobi Stars, Abia Warriors, Dakkada FC, Rangers, Sunshine Stars, and Rivers United’s derby foe Bayelsa United are also in Group B alongside them.

The final season winner will be decided by a Super 6 match between the top three clubs from Groups A and B, according to the IMC.

For winning the title, the NPFL Champion is anticipated to receive a staggering 100 million Naira.

GROUP A

Kwara United

Nasarawa United

Plateau United

Gombe United

El Kanemi Warriors

Enyimba

Akwa United

Bendel Insurance

Shooting Stars

Remo Stars

GROUP B

Niger Tornadoes

Doma United

Wikki Tourists

Lobi Stars

Rivers United

Abia Warriors

Dakkada FC

Rangers

Sunshine Stars

Bayelsa United