29.01.2014 15:12 h

Football: Enyimba, Sunshine to open new Nigeria season

Sunshine Stars will host Enyimba to headline the opening day matches of the new Nigeria Premier League season on February 23, the league has announced.

Six-time champions Enyimba, who on Tuesday won the pre-season Super Four tournament in Abuja, narrowly missed out on winning the championship last season.

Sunshine Stars, who were semi-finalists at the 2012 Confederation of African Football Champions League, finished a disappointing 12th last time round.

Defending league champions Kano Pillars will be away to newly promoted Giwa FC, from the central city of Jos, in the opening day action.

Local rivals Heartland and Dolphins will face off in a derby in the southern city of Owerri.

The start of the new season was delayed for months because of wrangling between clubs and the league body over a start date and the League Management Company's running of the competition.

Opening day fixtures of the Nigeria Premier League on February 23:

Giwa FC V Pillars

Rangers V Nembe

Abia Warriors V Kaduna

Wolves v El Kanemi

Bayelsa v Sharks

Sunshine v Enyimba

Lobi v Crown

Heartland v Dolphins

Akwa v Gombe