Shooting Stars, Inter Lagos to open NPFL season
The NPFL has confirmed that Shooting Stars SC and newly promoted Inter Lagos FC will inaugurate the 2026/2027 season with a South-West derby on the opening day.
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) confirmed that Shooting Stars SC and newly promoted Inter Lagos FC will inaugurate the 2026/2027 season with a South-West derby. League leadership confirmed updated broadcast agreements for the opening match fixture.
The opening-day fixture is a mouth-watering prospect for Nigerian football fans. Shooting Stars is one of Nigeria’s most historic clubs, while Inter Lagos has just been promoted. The South-West derby is expected to draw a large crowd and significant media attention.
This echoes the 2020 NPFL season opener, which also featured a derby match. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a focus on generating interest in the league.
The winners: Nigerian football fans, who will enjoy a thrilling opener; and the NPFL, which has generated buzz. The losers: the teams that are not playing; and the Nigerian public, who must hope the season is competitive.
Bottom Line: The NPFL season will open with a South-West derby. Shooting Stars face Inter Lagos. The question is whether the league can build on the excitement.