The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has mandated clubs of the Nigeria Professional Football League to carry out COVID-19 tests on their players and backroom staff before every match. The NFF also mandated that the tests be conducted on match officials before matches. All other clubs in the NNL, NLO and NWFL were mandated to follow the same protocols.
This was contained in a letter dated December 26, and sent to chairmen of the League Management Company, Nigeria National League, Nationwide League One and Nigeria Women’s Football League.
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The letter read, “Sequel to the decision of the various Leagues to start the season (NWFL already on), this is to remind you of the need to ensure that players and officials undergo COVID-19 tests before matches.
“Clubs are responsible for conducting the tests on their players and backroom Staff, while the leagues will be responsible for conducting the Covid-19 tests for the match officials and other supporting officials.
“All personnel in Group 1 & 2 as described in the FIFA Return to Football (International Match Protocol) Section 9 must thus be tested 48 hours before the game and result confirmed on match day.
“You are also to ensure that other COVID-19 protocols are observed during all matches,. These are the conditions on which ban on contact sports was lifted.”
The 2019/20 season for NPFL was suspended in March following the arrival of the pandemic. The league however resumed for the 2020/21 season last Sunday after much anticipation.
Nelson Okoh