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The Nigerian top-flight is currently in a bottleneck situation as champions Rivers United possess a backlog of 3 outstanding matches, with two weeks to the end of the regular season.
The Interim Management Committee (IMC), the body overseeing the running of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have provided an update as to how it intends to accommodate pending matches ahead of the start of the Super 6 playoff.
With two game weeks left, the 2023 NPFL regular season - expected to be concluded on Sunday, May 14, has entered a bottleneck situation as defending champions Rivers United currently possess a backlog of three outstanding matches.
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20:13 - 01.05.2023
What next for Rivers United after CAF Confederation Cup elimination?
The Nigerian side were knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday, following a 0-0 draw (2-0 defeat on aggregate) with Tanzania's Young Africans.
IMC praise Rivers United for CAF Confederation Cup run
Rivers United had accumulated unplayed NPFL fixtures as they competed in the Confederation Cup. Their run, however, ended on Sunday as Tanzania's Young Africans knocked them out of the quarterfinal following a 0-0 score (2-0 on aggregate).
Providing an update on Tuesday, the IMC revealed that it was pleased that a Nigerian club side got to the knockout stages of the Confederation Cup, adding that the body desires to always see Nigerian teams "go all the way" in continental competitions.
"Our desire is to see Nigerian clubs go all the way in the competition and this will naturally affect our fixtures just as it does elsewhere," Davidson Owumi, the Head of Operations of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) stated on Tuesday.
"Our fixtures fidelity has been proven from the kickoff and we are working to accommodate Rivers United's outstanding games to ensure the season is concluded with minimal blip."
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09:57 - 01.05.2023
NFF President reveal VAR set to land in NPFL, Federation Cup, other Nigerian competitions
The introduction of VAR in Nigeria would start off at 'regional levels' - the North Central, North East, North West, South East, the South-South and the South West.
NPFL regular season final day to be delayed
Owumi further announced that all Week 17 fixtures are scheduled to hold as planned this weekend in both groups, with the last games of the season, delayed until Rivers United have completed their outstanding matches.
"While we work around dates to reschedule outstanding matches of Rivers United, the weekend games will be played as scheduled in the two groups.
"After the MatchDay 17, Group B matches would be paused to allow Rivers United to complete their backlog and we hope to accomplish this within the month."
The NPFL champions are currently 4th in Group B with 23 points, with their three outstanding matches and are six off Group B leaders Lobi Stars.
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