Nigeria Premier Football League Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi said the NPFL pre-season tournament in Jos, Plateau State, will give Nigeria’s representatives in CAF club competitions valuable competitive preparation ahead of their continental campaigns.
The tournament brings together league champions Rangers International, runners-up Rivers United and President Federation Cup winners El-Kanemi Warriors, alongside host clubs Plateau United and Mighty Jets.
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Katsina United were also invited at short notice to replace Shooting Stars in the competition.
Owumi said the tournament was arranged to address the limited preparation window facing Nigerian clubs as the new domestic season approaches alongside CAF fixtures.
“Considering that our season would be commencing a few days before the CAF club matches, the NFF and NPFL resolved that it would benefit the clubs to have their players participate in a competitive tournament to further deepen their fitness and cohesion,” Owumi said, according to the NPFL media.
The competition is therefore expected to offer the participating clubs more than ordinary pre-season workouts.
Competitive matches can provide coaches with an opportunity to assess new signings, establish tactical combinations and build match sharpness before the demands of domestic and continental football intensify.
For Rangers, Rivers United and El-Kanemi Warriors, the tournament carries particular significance because of their involvement in CAF competitions.
A stronger preparation period could prove crucial as the clubs attempt to represent Nigeria effectively beyond the domestic league.
The timing is also important.
The 2026/27 NPFL season is scheduled to begin on Friday, August 28, 2026, leaving clubs with only a short period to transition from pre-season preparations into competitive league football.
Rangers, the defending NPFL champions, will begin their title defence against Katsina United in the opening fixture of the new campaign.
The Jos tournament consequently provides an important test before the league gets underway, while also giving the participating teams an early opportunity to gauge their readiness against competitive opposition.
Owumi’s comments underline the broader objective of the initiative: ensuring that Nigerian clubs enter their CAF assignments with greater fitness, tactical understanding and squad cohesion rather than relying solely on conventional training sessions.
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With domestic and continental commitments arriving almost simultaneously, the tournament could prove a timely platform for Nigeria’s representatives to fine-tune their squads and build momentum before the challenges ahead.
