The 2013 Nigeria Professional Football League was the 42nd season of the competition since its inception, and the 23rd since the rebranding of the league as the "Professional League". Due to start in December, numerous delays and challenges to the board pushed the opening weekend back to February, and then pushed to March 9. There was a season-opening Super Four tournament, won by Heartland F.C., between the four clubs involved in Continental competitions in order to get them ready for their international assignments.Kano promises to host a good Super Four tournament(Goal.com)
Clubs Sixteen teams from the previous season and four teams promoted from the Nigeria National League (Bayelsa United, El-Kanemi Warriors, Nasarawa United and Nembe City F.C.) participated in this season.
Team nameHome cityHome venueFirst year of current stint in LeagueABS FC IlorinKwara State Stadium2011Akwa UnitedUyoUyo Township Stadium/Rojenny Stadium, Oba2011Bayelsa United F.C. YenegoaSamson Siasia Stadium2012DolphinsPort HarcourtLiberation Stadium2009El-Kanemi WarriorsMaiduguriEl-Kanemi Stadium2012Enugu Rangers EnuguNnamdi Azikiwe Stadium1973EnyimbaAbaEnyimba International Stadium1994Gombe United GombePantami Stadium1994Heartland OwerriDan Anyiam Stadium1975Kaduna United KadunaKaduna Township Stadium2008Kano PillarsKanoSani Abacha Stadium2001Kwara United IlorinKwara State Stadium2009Lobi Stars MakurdiEmmanuel Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala/Aper Aku Stadium1999Nasarawa United LafiaLafia Township Stadium2012Nembe City F.C.NembeSamson Siasia Stadium2012SharksPort HarcourtSharks Stadium2008Shooting Stars IbadanAwolowo Stadium2009Sunshine StarsAkureAkure Township Stadium2007Warri Wolves WarriWarri Township Stadium2008Wikki TouristsBauchiAbubarkar Tafawa Balewa Stadium2011
Table
News Akwa United were banished to Rojenny Stadium in Anambra State for the rest of the season after a Week 18 incident against Warri Wolves where fans invaded the pitch and attacked officials.
A September game between Kano Pillars and Enyimba was abandoned in the final minutes because of crowd trouble. Pillars will play the rest of the season in Kaduna. After the league originally awarded the forfeit to Enyimba, the NFF ruled the game to be replayed 9 October in Lokoja.http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4111/nigeria-premier-league/2013/10/04/4309612/nffs-appeals-committee-orders-kano-pillars-enyimba-replay?ICID=CP_2560
Managerial (head coach) changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming managerDate of appointmentSharks F.C.Augustine EguavoenResigned24 March 2013Gbenga Ogunbote30 March 2013Sunshine Stars F.C.Samuel AbimbolaFired29 May 2013 Fatai Amoo3 June 2013Lobi Stars F.C.Dominic IorfaInterimEvans Ogenyi10 July 2013Nasarawa United F.C.Alphonsus DkeFired22 August 2013Kadiri Ikhana22 August 2013
References