The Nigeria Professional Football League resumes today for the 2022-22 season after four months of inactivity with MFM FC hosting newly-promoted Remo Stars in the first game of the season.

With their Agege Stadium home ground currently undergoing repairs, MFM were originally scheduled to play at the Mobolaji Johnson arena but the Olukoya Boys have now settled for the Teslim Balogun Stadium as a temporary home ground.

Friday’s curtain-raiser will be the fifth top-flight meeting between the southwest-based clubs with MFM boasting complete dominance over their neighbours with three wins and a draw in previous encounters.

Remo aren’t helped by never having won an opening day NPFL fixture in their history but the newcomers will be buoyed by back-to-back wins against MFM in pre-season: a 3-2 win at the Dapo Abiodun Preseason Tournament and a 1-0 win in the semifinals of the Ogunjobi Gold Cup Preseason Tournament.

While the Olukoya Boys have been a staple in the top-flight since their ascent in 2015, the Sky Blues have found it more difficult staying up, twice going down immediately following promotion.

The Ikenne-based club will hope it would be third time lucky this season and have moved to ensure their top-flight safety by signing 13 new players and appointing the experienced former Enyimba and Rangers coach Gbenga Ogunbote as their manager.

Friday’s opener promises to be explosive with MFM looking to extend their dominance over Remo Stars while the Sky Blues will look to change their fortunes and start on a footing that sets them up for a successful season in Nigeria’s top-flight.