By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Nigeria Premier Football League has banned the Bako Kantagora Stadium in Minna from hosting top-flight matches, thereby forcing Niger Tornadoes to relocate their home fixtures for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season.
The league’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, disclosed the directive in a letter dated Friday, 30 January, 2026, following the implementation of new broadcast and television rights agreements that impose stricter technical and infrastructural requirements on match venues.
Accordingly, the NPFL said the Kantagora Stadium no longer meets the minimum standards required to stage league fixtures under the revised broadcast framework.
As a result, Niger Tornadoes were ordered to immediately nominate an alternative home ground. The club was given a choice between the Rasheed Yekini Main Bowl in Ilorin and the Jos Zaria Road Stadium, with a deadline of close of business on Monday, 2 February, 2026, to formally notify the NPFL Secretariat.
The league, however, warned that failure to respond within the stipulated timeframe would compel it to allocate a venue on the club’s behalf.
Nevertheless, owing to the short notice, Tornadoes will still host their matchday 24 fixture against Bendel Insurance at the Minna venue, with the relocation taking effect from subsequent home matches.
The ban followed sustained criticism of the stadium’s condition by visiting teams this season, with Ikorodu City among the clubs that publicly raised concerns over the quality of the playing surface and support facilities.
Meanwhile, the Kantagora ruling comes shortly after the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan was similarly barred from hosting NPFL matches, underscoring the league’s renewed drive to enforce minimum venue standards in line with its broadcast commitments and ongoing rebranding efforts.
Elsewhere, several clubs have been affected by venue-related sanctions this season. Katsina United have been forced to play home matches in Kano due to issues at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, while defending champions Remo Stars are serving a five-game home ban away from Ikenne over crowd violence, currently staging games in Ibadan and set to continue in Akure.
Enyimba are also under sanction, with the Aba-based club ordered to play matches behind closed doors at the Enyimba International Stadium following disciplinary action by the league.
Niger Tornadoes are expected to confirm their temporary home ground ahead of their next NPFL fixture as the list of restricted venues across the league continues to expand.
