TheCable

Rivers United, the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, will kick start their title defence against Lobi stars at home in the 2022/23 season.

The interim management committee (IMC) conducted a draw for the new NPFL abridged season on Wednesday afternoon in Abuja.

The new season is slated to start on January 8 and end in May.

All 20 clubs are drawn into two groups — A and B — with ten sides in each.

Stanley Eguma boys are in group B with Wikki Tourists, Abia Warriors, Dakkada, Rangers, Sunshine stars, Niger Tornadoes, Doma United, Lobi stars, and Bayelsa.

While group A has Plateau United, Gombe, Enyimba, Akwa United, 3SC, Remo stars, Kwara, Nasarawa, well as newly promoted El Kanemi warriors and Bendel insurance to tango among themselves.

The IMC also announced that a super six tournament will be played to determine the eventual winner of the campaign.

The super six will consist of the top three teams from both groups at the conclusion of the abridged format for the season.

The prize money for the NPFL season champion is 100 million naira.

The full list for the 2022/23 NPFL abridged league:

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