The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has initiated a formal inspection of the Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin, following widespread criticism over the quality of the pitch during Shooting Stars’ recent match, which sparked a public dispute between the league and the Ibadan-based club.
NPFL Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye confirmed on Wednesday via GTI that officials had been dispatched to the Rasidi Yekini Stadium after videos circulated online showing players navigating uneven surfaces while groundsmen hurriedly filled holes with sand just before kickoff.
“Of what benefits is it to the NPFL if clubs are playing on substandard pitch?” Elegbeleye asked. “As at 4pm today, two people have been engaged to inspect the Rasidi Yekini Stadium and report back with pictures and videos. We have banned clubs in the recent past from playing in their home grounds. Kwara United is not more important than others.”
The controversy erupted after Shooting Stars’ sporting director, Tobi Adepoju, posted on X alleging that poor pitches sanctioned by the NPFL had caused injuries to four players this season, including one requiring surgery costing more than N3 million. “Three casualties yesterday in Ilorin, and we do not know how much it will cost us to take care of them yet,” he wrote.
The league responded with a formal reprimand, accusing Adepoju of making “false and disparaging claims” against the chairman and misrepresenting the club licensing framework. NPFL Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi, in a letter to the club official, described the allegations as “patently false” and in violation of league regulations that prohibit clubs or representatives from unfairly criticizing the league or its officials.
Owumi cited Abia Warriors’ recent formal petition regarding refereeing decisions as the proper procedure for addressing grievances. The letter instructed Adepoju to publicly correct his statements, apologize to the chairman, and provide justification as to why disciplinary action should not be imposed.
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