The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is set to introduce Friday night football, alongside early Saturday and Sunday kick-offs, as part of a new matchday scheduling format.

The new arrangement will begin with the Matchday Nine clash between Shooting Stars and Ranchers Bees at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Friday, October 16.

The encounter will kick off at 6pm, marking the second time Shooting Stars will host a league match on a Friday this season.

The Ibadan club previously played on a Friday on Matchday One, when they defeated Inter Lagos 2-1.

The NPFL is expected to introduce early Saturday and Sunday kick-offs as the season progresses.

The league said the new scheduling format is designed to inject greater excitement into NPFL matchdays and bring the competition closer to the scheduling patterns adopted by major leagues around the world.