The Chairman, Interim Management Committee, (IMC) Gbenga Elegbeleye has said that the league body will not make any comment on the Nigeria Professional Football League Naija 8 until their meeting with the Nigeria Football Federation president, Ibrahim Gusau.
The meeting between the IMC and NFF President is scheduled for Monday 17th April, 2023 at the Sunday Dankaro House, Package B, Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja.
Elegbeleye, while rolling out the achievements of the league body to journalists in Abuja clarified that Naija 8 and Super 6 are not the same. He explained that Super 6 consists of first three clubs on league table A and B. The six clubs at the end of the league will assemble in a venue to play a round robin league where the 2022/2023 NPL champions will emerge. The second and third on the log will pick tickets to play at the CAF Club competitions.
Explaining further, he said the league body has not drawn any conclusion on Naija 8 and will make their position known after meeting with Gusau on Monday.
“After meeting briefly with me in Abuja without conclusion on the Naija 8, we then saw them (Naija 8 organisers) in Lagos having a press briefing with the General Secretary of NFF (Sanusi Mohammed) in attendance and I called the NFF President that we will not be part of it unless we know what benefit is coming to Nigeria football.” Elegbeleye told BSN Sports.
“So, the NFF President fixed a meeting for next Monday (tomorrow) but surprisingly we have seen that the same organisation are coming out with promo, advertisement without including Nigeria Premier League.
“We are not going to talk about that until we have finished our meeting with the NFF President on Monday after that, we will come out with our position on Naija 8. We will respect the office of the NFF President, have meeting with him and the promoter of the Naija 8 on Monday. He added.
“Naija 8 is not same thing with Super 6. And it has nothing to do with Dozi Mmbuozi Super 8.” He stated
“Dozi was the sponsor of the Super 4 before the commencement of the this season where winners went home with N100m. They want to organise another one, this time, Super 8 with increment in prize money for the winners.” He concluded.