Uganda and Nigeria football leagues launch new seasons

The 2026/27 football season has commenced in Uganda and Nigeria with significant developments in both leagues.

In Uganda, defending champions Vipers SC suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Entebbe UPPC in their Uganda Premier League opener. The match, decided by an own goal from Kevin Dasylva Bady, marks a difficult start for Vipers' new head coach Denis Lavagne. Ahead of the season, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) implemented updated competition rules regarding stadium approvals, youth player registration, and coaching license requirements.

In Nigeria, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has launched under a new era following a $7.5 million naming-rights agreement with EuroMatch. This deal renames the competition to the EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League and increases the champions' prize money from ₦200 million to ₦1 billion. The season kicks off despite recent administrative shifts, including the removal of NPFL Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye and the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau.