NPFL Clarifies Club Licensing Process, Reaffirms Commitment to Standards Following Recent Pitch Criticism

The Management of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has issued a formal clarification regarding recent public comments questioning the quality of the Kwara State Stadium pitch, reiterating that the NPFL’s club licensing and stadium approval system remains transparent, professional, and fully aligned with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), CAF, and FIFA standards.

Reacting to the developments, the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, described the criticism as misguided and lacking understanding of the league’s regulatory framework.

“Sir, I like young intelligent men that seek knowledge. By the current arrangement, the Club Licensing Regime is under the full purview of the NFF,” Owumi explained.
“At the beginning of every season, clubs apply to the NFF for clearance and present all required documents, including infrastructural criteria covering stadium facilities and playing surfaces. The NFF conducts thorough scrutiny and issues licences only when all standards are met. Once the licence is issued, the NPFL enforces compliance.”

Owumi further clarified that continuous monitoring is a core responsibility of the NPFL, as clubs must maintain the standards they submitted during licensing.

“If, during the season, we notice any decline from the approved standard, it is our duty to notify the club and remind them of their obligations. That is why we wrote a reminder letter recently — to ensure full compliance with what the NFF approved. We are the watchdog of the process, and any drop in standard is reported back to the NFF.”
In a related development, Kwara United Football Club has strongly criticised comments made by sports commentator and Shooting Stars Sporting Director, Adepoju Tóbi Samuel, who described the Rashidi Yekini Main-Bowl pitch as substandard.

The club, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Kumbi Titiloye, described the remarks as “unfortunate, unprofessional, and capable of undermining the integrity of the NPFL, especially at a time when the league is building credibility around its approval processes.”

Titiloye noted that the pitch in question has successfully hosted:

NPFL matches, NNL fixtures, Nationwide League games, FA Cup competitions, and International youth matches with no formal complaints from referees, match commissioners, or participating teams.
“Stadium approvals are not issued casually,” he said.
“They follow certified inspections that meet CAF and FIFA-aligned facility standards. For someone in a sensitive administrative role to make reckless comments without evidence is unnecessary and unhelpful.”

Titiloye also confirmed that a review of match footage showed no issues related to pitch quality:

“One of the players stepped on the ball while in motion; another incident was normal contact — part of football. Our players used the same pitch without difficulty.”

He added that several teams, including Niger Tornadoes, Katsina United, and others, have played at the stadium this season without lodging any complaint, noting that Katsina United’s Coach, Audu Azeez, even praised the pitch during their recent encounter with Enyimba FC.

Both the NPFL Management and Kwara United advised stakeholders to use appropriate football channels when raising concerns, urging commentators to avoid public statements that may mislead fans or cast institutions in a negative light.

“Constructive criticism is welcome. What we cannot accept is commentary that misrepresents facts, embarrasses institutions, and undermines confidence in the league’s growth,” the NPFL COO reiterated.

The NPFL reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high standards across all approved stadiums and ensuring that the league continues on its path toward improved professionalism and global credibility.