Double-header opens NPFL pre-season

The pre-season tournament of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) also known as the Glo Premier League will kick off with two big clashes in Abuja on Friday.

The tournament will feature four of the Nigerian clubs due to take part in this year's Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup.

Nigerian champions, Kano Pillars, Warri Wolves, Bayelsa United and two-time African champions, Enyimba are the clubs billed to feature in the round-robin tournament.

On Day One of the tournament, Enyimba and Bayelsa United will set the tone in an early kick off this Friday at the National Stadium in Abuja before Kano Pillars go up against 2013 Federation Cup finalists, Warri Wolves.

Interestingly, Warri Wolves are the only club out of the participating teams yet to win the Glo Premier League and the odds rank them as the underdogs for this tournament.

But Wolves' standout performer last season, Oghenekaro Etebo believes the underdogs tag will not hold them back from ruffling feathers.

"If people see us as underdogs then that's their opinion. For me, we have a strong squad ready to compete with any team in the country now," said Etebo.

Already, the four clubs have been paid N1 million each as participating fees.

The winners of the pre-season tournament will pocket N1.5 million while the runners-up will get N1 million.

The third and fourth-placed clubs will earn N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.

Schedule

Friday, January 24, 2014

Enyimba v Bayelsa United

Kano Pillars v Warri Wolves

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Enyimba v Warri Wolves

Bayelsa United v Kano Pillars

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Warri Wolves v Bayelsa United

Enyimba v Kano Pillars