The Nigeria Premier Football League has drawn a hard line in the sand for the upcoming 2025/26 season, introducing stringent penalties that will hit clubs where it hurts most—their wallets. Any head coach who skips post-match press conferences will now cost their club a staggering ₦1 million, BSN Sports reports.
Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi delivered this bombshell during a pre-season seminar in Lafia, addressing an audience of media officers, supporters’ club representatives, and security personnel. His message was crystal clear: the days of sending substitutes to face the press are over.
“Global football standards demand accountability from the top,” Owumi declared, drawing comparisons to elite leagues worldwide. “You won’t find Pep Guardiola hiding behind his assistant after a match. Our head coaches must step up and own their teams’ performances—both victories and defeats.”
The new regulations represent a seismic shift in how Nigerian football approaches media relations. NPFL Communications Director Harry Iwuala complemented these enforcement measures by challenging clubs to think bigger about their promotional strategies. He emphasised that creative marketing and media engagement could transform the league’s national profile.
Adding another layer to the media overhaul, Iwuala announced that pre-match interviews will become mandatory for both home and visiting teams starting next season. This initiative promises to give supporters unprecedented access to player perspectives and tactical insights before kickoff.
These changes signal the NPFL’s determination to professionalise every aspect of the league experience. By demanding direct accountability from head coaches and expanding media touchpoints, officials aim to create a more transparent, engaging product for fans and stakeholders.
As defending champions, Remo Stars prepare for their title defence in the coming weeks, they—along with all other clubs—must adapt to this new era of enhanced media responsibility. The question now is whether coaches will embrace this spotlight or let their clubs pay the price for their absence.
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