Sunshine Stars kick off their Champions League Group A campaign at home against defending champions Esperance of Tunisia on Saturday, July 7, in Ijebu-Ode.

NPL Executive Secretary Tunji Babalola told MTNFootball.com that the board took that decision in the interest of the country, so that Sunshine Stars have enough time to prepare for the CAF Champions League.

 

He said, "Sunshine Stars have been excluded from the Week 33 fixtures this Wednesday, in order to allow them prepare well ahead of their CAF Champions League match at the weekend.

“They are Nigeria’s only club left on the continent this year and so we are giving them all the needed support to do well in the competition.

“They were to have played Kaduna United away on Wednesday and won't return to Ijebu-Ode earlier than Thursday evening, which is not good for them before the match on Saturday."

Last year, Sunshine reached the semi-finals of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup.