The 2023/2024 season of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) came to a close recently. It was filled with entertainment, surprises, jaw-dropping moments, and controversies. Join us as we take a brief dive into some highlight moments, performances, and players from the Nigerian league last season.
REBRANDING AND DELAYED START
The league season had a delayed start as it was postponed twice from its initial opening date of August 26 to September 9, before it eventually commenced on September 30, 2023. It was renamed from the Nigeria Professional Football League to the Nigeria Premier Football League. The prize money was increased from 100 million naira to 150 million naira. Additionally, all clubs received a 10 million naira take-off fund to kickstart the season and enable smooth operations.
CHAMPIONS OF THE NIGERIAN LEAGUE
Enugu Rangers triumphed over all other participant clubs and were crowned champions, marking their first league title in eight seasons. Newly appointed head coach at the beginning of the season, Fidelis Ilechukwu, oversaw the title charge. A two-nil win over Bendel Insurance in their final home game of the season all but confirmed their status as champions on matchday 37.
A goal apiece by Chidiebere Nwobodo and Kenechukwu Agu was enough to seal the win for them. Seventy points across thirty-eight matchdays were enough to get the job done, ending the season with a record of twenty-one wins, seven draws, and ten losses.
CONTINENTAL COMPETITIONS
The Flying Antelopes have automatically qualified for the CAF Champions League next season as a result of their champion status, and they’ll be joined by league runner-ups Remo Stars FC. Third-placed Enyimba secured qualification to the CAF Confederations Cup next season.
OFFENSIVE PROWESS AND DEFENSIVE SOLIDITY
Champions Enugu Rangers scored a league-best 56 goals, while 20th-placed side Gombe United recorded the fewest amount of goals with twenty-one goals. Bendel Insurance were solid defensively, conceding the fewest goals, thirty. Gombe United, expectedly, had the worst defensive record, letting in a league-high seventy-eight goals.
HOME AND AWAY PERFORMANCES
Remo Stars recorded the best home record last season, finishing with an impressive eighteen wins and one draw, going unbeaten at home. Their away record was terrible, with just two wins, four draws, and thirteen losses. Gombe United had the worst home record with eight wins, five draws, and six losses.
Enugu Rangers secured the best away record, recording seventeen points across nineteen matches. Gombe United once again recorded the worst away record with zero wins, two draws, and seventeen losses, joining the likes of Heartland FC, Sporting Lagos FC, Rivers United, and Katsina United, who all failed to win a single league game away.
CONTROVERSIAL MOMENTS
ENUGU RANGERS VS ENYIMBA FC
A title-deciding fixture between Enyimba FC and Enugu Rangers on June 9, 2024, descended into chaos just before the end of the match after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty. The score was tied at 0-0 at this point. Enyimba players shoved the referee and staged a walkout in protest of the decision, refusing to carry on with the match. The fans subsequently invaded the pitch in large numbers.
The three points were ultimately awarded to Enugu Rangers as a punishment to Enyimba FC, and their goal difference was reduced by three. Both parties were fined, with the home side given a fine of 5 million naira for over-ticketing, stadium security breach, and failure to control the crowd.
GOMBE UNITED VS RIVERS UNITED
Gombe United were fined 2.5 million naira, deducted three points and three goals for their fans’ unscrupulous assault on match officials in their matchday seventeen fixture against Rivers United at home. Head coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru was also given a three-match suspension for his role in the melee. Subsequently, they had to play their remaining matches before the mid-season behind closed doors.
RELEGATION AND PROMOTION
The four bottom-placed teams, namely Sporting Lagos FC, Doma United, Heartland FC, and Gombe United, were all relegated to the Nigerian National League. Beyond Limits, Ikorodu City, Nasarawa United, and El-Kanemi Warriors FC all earned promotion to the Nigerian top flight from the second division.
INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS
Twenty-one-year-old Enyimba striker Chijiome Mbaoma secured the Eunisell Golden Boot, finishing as top scorer with seventeen goals. He received a 3.4 million naira prize money as each goal amounted to 200,000 naira. He was followed closely by Siliru Alimi of Remo Stars with fifteen goals. Four players finished as joint third top scorers with twelve goals: Albert Hilary, Jonathan Alukwu, Godwin Obaje, and Hashiri Usman.
Bendel Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie recorded a league-best eighteen clean sheets to secure the Golden Glove award, conceding just twenty-five goals. He became the outright record holder of the all time league record for most clean sheets in a Nigerian Premier League season in the process.
Twenty year old defender Sodiq Ismail finished the season as the top assist provider with 13 assists. His exceptional performances earned him a call-up to the national team for the World Cup qualifiers, becoming the first player to be called up from Remo Stars. The right-back often dictated games from his full back role, pinging crosses and passes to the attackers with relative ease. His performances deservedly earned him a place in the team of the season and Remo Stars player of the season award. The Nigerian Trent-Alexander Arnold perhaps.
FIVE-STAR PERFORMANCE
Eighteen-year-old Yusuf Abdullahi of Kano Pillars scored five goals in their matchday away fixture against Gombe United on December 3, 2023. The winger cum striker scored all five goals for his team in a 5-2 demolition of Gombe United at the Gombe Township Stadium.
It was a fairytale moment for the youngster as he didn’t just grab his maiden goal in the league; he grabbed his first career brace, hat-trick, haul, and glut all in one match, just one shy of a double hat-trick. He completed his hat-trick in the space of 23 minutes and grabbed his haul on the hour mark. His heroics quickly vanquished any hope of a comeback for the hosts. A legendary performance by the teenage sensation, the only player to score 5 goals in a single match this season. Remember his name; Yusuf Abdullahi!
HIGHEST SCORING FIXTURE OF THE SEASON
It was pure entertainment and goals galore as Bayelsa United faced off against Akwa United in their opening match of the season at home. Akwa United showed purpose and intent from the get-go as they took the lead through Hadi Mohammed in the 21st minute, and Alex Jerry grabbed the equalizer six minutes later. Seyi Oguntayo restored their lead in the 38th minute, but the hosts went level through Robert Mizo once again just before halftime.
Oguntayo was on hand to restore his team’s lead and grab his second of the night in the 76th minute. The entertainment didn’t end there! Mizo wasn’t going to be outdone as he grabbed the equalizer for his team once again six minutes later. He completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute to give his side the lead for the first time in the match. Emmanuel Nneoyi all but confirmed the three points in the 94th minute. An end-to-end affair, pure entertainment!
UNSUNG HERO; Ayobami Junior
Ayobami Junior is a midfielder who shone like a million stars for Shooting Stars Sports Club last season. The pint size skillful player is arguably the most creative player in the NPFL. Although diminutive, “Agba”, as he is fondly called by his admirers makes up for his titchy appearance with magical and jaw-dropping displays. His skill set is akin to that of former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha, his reading and vision of the game is arguably the best in the league. His display in the middle of the park for the Oluyole Warriors helped them to their best finish in the league in over a decade. A fourth place finish, one point short of a continental place.
Ayobami Junior is a hot commodity in the Nigerian football folklore. Decisive goals, incisive passes, clutch performances and leadership, all these were what the people of Ibadan enjoyed last season with “Agba” touching the peak of his powers. Several “man of the match” awards and widespread popularity amongst the Oluyole faithfuls defined Junior’s season.
Such was his effectiveness that it has now seemed to earn him a move abroad. Though unconfirmed, the 25 year old is bound to ply his trade outside the shores of the NPFL at the start of the new season.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
