The Nigeria Premier Football League has issued a stern warning to all clubs as the 2025/26 season races toward its conclusion, threatening to strip any offending side of three points and three goals if they fail to comply with scheduling directives for the final two matchdays.

In a memo circulated to all clubs, NPFL Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi reminded teams that Matchday 37 and 38 fixtures must be played simultaneously, with all games kicking off at 4pm on the same date.

The league body said the decision was designed to protect sporting integrity and ensure that no club gains an unfair advantage by knowing the results of other matches before their own game concludes.

Owumi was unambiguous in his instructions, telling clubs not to request any changes to the scheduled dates or kick-off times, regardless of the circumstances. For those facing difficulties with their regular home venues, the league offered a narrow window, directing clubs to identify and communicate an alternative NPFL-accredited ground before the close of business on May 7, 2026. Clubs that failed to do so were warned that the league itself would assign a venue on their behalf.

The firmness of the directive reflects how much is riding on the final stretch of the season. With the title race, continental qualification places and the relegation battle all yet to be settled heading into Matchday 37, the league is clearly determined to prevent any manipulation or scheduling irregularity from clouding the outcome. Among the standout fixtures on Sunday were Remo Stars hosting Bayelsa United in a crucial survival clash in Ikenne, Enyimba facing Kwara United, and Nasarawa United taking on Plateau United, all with serious implications at either end of the table.

The threat of points deduction is not an idle one. Earlier this season, both Kwara United and Kano Pillars suffered exactly such sanctions following separate incidents of crowd violence and regulatory breaches, with each club losing three points and three goals from their tallies.

The NPFL has consistently maintained that no club is above its rules, and Sunday’s directive reinforces that position as the league enters its most consequential week of the campaign.