Nigerian Football
There’s all to play for as NPL Championship play off comes to an end
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is going down to the wire! Adios predictability…bye to established form books. The curtain falls on the IMC-evoked championship play-off this Sunday.
Not many things are certain until the 15th match is played. There are stakes for all the six contenders.
The only certainty is the fact that both Enyimba and Rivers United have picked tickets to go continental. But they are not too certain of the content of the envelopes they are holding.
Are both holding the tickets to the CAF Champions League? Will one of them still step down to the CAF Confederation Cup?
Yet unanswered with certainty is the possibility of Enyimba going for the latest innovation – the CAF Super League – instead of the CAF Champions League.
Yet possible is the lurking Remo Stars snatching not just a Champions League ticket that is obtainable if they come second, but also getting the title and the prize money as Nigeria’s latest champions.
Bendel Insurance can also still stage a possible coup of pulling Remo Stars down to the fourth position and taking the third and the attendance CAF Confederation ticket.
Even the duo of bottom-placed Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars have something to fight for. Will Lobi Stars end the series without scoring any goal?
The allure of the Super 6 League is that all the teams substantially have their destinies in their hands.
In the championship battle are Enyimba and Rivers United. Both have direct confrontation to decide a winner. The stakes are high for both.
The bragging rights as Nigeria’s champions as well as the high stake prize money.
Considering the grim determination from both, should they end in a draw, Remo Stars may profit in that if they do themselves a world of good by winning their potentially explosive encounter with bitter rivals, Bendel Insurance.
The top three will then all end up with nine points each. Goal difference will then determine the ranking.
That way, Rivers United may lose some grounds, slipping into the third position while Remo Stars come second depending on the number of goals they score against Bendel Insurance.
If the Remo Stars goal difference arithmetically comes up to more than four, even Enyimba on the top of the log will be at risk.
So, if both Enyimba and Rivers United end their match in low score draw or even goalless and Remo Stars beat Insurance 2-0, Remo Stars will be Nigeria’s latest champions and the first one-man owned club to win the Nigerian league in 17 years!
The last sole proprietorship club to win the Nigerian league was the defunct Ocean Boys in 2006. The club was formed by Sylva Nathaniel Ngo, the chairman of Brass Local Government in Bayelsa State.
If Remo Stars beat Bendel Insurance, they will have a nervy three hour wait to ascertain their fate which will only come to light after the last match of Enyimba and Rivers United.
If a winner emerges, Remo Stars will drop to second position. So there is tension all the way.
Day 5: June 11th
- Sunshine Stars Vs Lobi Stars – 2pm
- Remo Stars Vs Bendel Insurance – 4.30pm
- Enyimba FC Vs Rivers United – 6.30pm
| Teams | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
| Enyimba | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 8 | ||
| Rivers | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | ||
| Remo | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 6 | ||
| Bendel | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 | ||
| Lobi | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 2 | ||
| Sunshine | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 2 | ||
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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