Things you should know about the Nigeria Premier League
The Nigeria Premier League is officially known as the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). This is the highest tier of association football in the Nigerian football league system. It was first played in 1972 and has experienced dwindling fortunes since the late 2000s.
The Nigerian top league is run by the Nigeria National League (NNL) and sponsored by the League Management Company (LMC). It was renamed several times before having the current name.
- 1972–1979: Nigerian National League / Nigerian Football League
- 1979–1990: Nigerian National League - First Division
- 1993–2000: Nigerian Premier League ( first time)
- 2000-2003: Nigerian Premiership
- 2012/12- present: Nigerian Premier League (second time)
Nigeria Professional Football League
2020-21 Nigeria Premier League
The 2020-21 NPFL is the 50th season of the top flight in the Nigerian football league system. The league began on 27 December 2020. Enyimba are the defending champions from the 2019 edition despite that league could not be completed till the end.
Enyimba win the 2019 NPFL
There are 20 teams playing in the 2020-21 season. They are all from the 2019-20 season because no teams were promoted or relegated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. NPFL TV and NTA are official live broadcasters of the league.
Teams in the 2020-21 NPFL
Team
|
Location
|
Stadium
|
Head Coach
|
Abia Warriors
|
Umuahia
|
Okigwe Stadium
|
Imama Amapakabo
|
Adamawa United
|
Yola
|
Pantami Stadium
|
Ibrahim Bello
|
Akwa United F.C.
|
Uyo
|
Godswill Akpabio Stadium
|
Kennedy Boboye
|
Dakkada
|
Uyo
|
Godswill Akpabio Stadium
|
Caleb Esu
|
Enugu Rangers
|
Enugu
|
Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium
|
Salisu Yusuf
|
Enyimba
|
Aba
|
Enyimba International Stadium
|
Fatai Osho
|
Heartland F.C.
|
Owerri
|
Okigwe Stadium
|
Fidelis Ilechukwu
|
Ifeanyi Ubah F.C.
|
Nnewi
|
Ifeanyi Ubah FC International Stadium
|
Uche Okagbue
|
Jigawa Golden Stars
|
Dutse
|
Ahmadu Bello Stadium
|
Dodo Isah
|
Kano Pillars
|
Kano
|
Ahmadu Bello Stadium
|
Ibrahim Musa
|
Katsina United
|
Katsina
|
Muhammadu Dikko Stadium
|
Azeez Mohammed
|
Kwara United
|
Ilorin
|
Kwara State Stadium
|
Abdullahi Biffo
|
Lobi Stars
|
Makurdi
|
Aper Aku Stadium
|
Kabiru Dogo
|
MFM F.C.
|
Lagos
|
Agege Stadium
|
Gabriel Olalekan
|
Nasarawa United
|
Lafia
|
Lafia Township Stadium
|
Bala Nikyu
|
Plateau United
|
Jos
|
New Jos Stadium
|
Abdu Maikaba
|
Rivers United
|
Port Harcourt
|
Yakubu Gowon Stadium
|
Stanley Eguma
|
Sunshine Stars
|
Akure
|
Akure Township Stadium
|
Gbenga Ogunbote
|
Warri Wolves
|
Warri
|
Delta State Polytechnic Stadium
|
Ortega Deniran
|
Wikki Tourists F.C.
|
Bauchi
|
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium
|
Bala Jibrin
|
Titles by Clubs in the Nigeria Premier League
As of the present time, Enyimba are the dominants of the Nigerian Premier League with 8 times reaching the champion title. They are also the defending champions from the previous season (2019-20).
The second-best team are Rangers International. They have had 7 winning titles. Shooting Stars and Heartland F.C are both standing at the third position with 5 titles.
Best Clubs in the NPFL
Clubs
|
Championship
|
Years
|
Enyimba (Aba)
|
8
|
2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019
|
Rangers International (Enugu)
|
7
|
1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2016
|
Shooting Stars (Ibadan)
|
5
|
1976, 1980, 1983, 1995, 1998
|
Heartland F.C. (Owerri)
|
5
|
1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
|
Kano Pillars (Kano)
|
4
|
2008, 2012, 2013, 2014
|
Dolphin (Port Harcourt)
|
3
|
1997, 2004, 2011
|
Bendel Insurance (Benin City)
|
2
|
1973, 1979
|
Julius Berger (Lagos)
|
2
|
1991, 2000
|
Lobi Stars (Makurdi)
|
1
|
1999
|
BCC Lions (Gboko)
|
1
|
1994
|
Stationery Stores (Lagos)
|
1
|
1992
|
Leventis United (Ibadan)
|
1
|
1986
|
Plateau United (Jos)
|
1
|
2017
|
Bayelsa United (Yenegoa)
|
1
|
2009
|
Ocean Boys (Brass)
|
1
|
2006
|
Udoji United (Awka)
|
1
|
1996
|
New Nigeria Bank (Benin City)
|
1
|
1985
|
Racca Rovers (Kano)
|
1
|
1978
|
Mighty Jets (Jos)
|
1
|
1972
|
Top Best goalscorers of the Nigeria Premier League
Here is the Nigeria Premier League table of the best players over years. Mfon Udoh is having the best achievement with 23 goals for Enyimba in the 2014 season.
Best Players in the NPFL
Year
|
Top scorers
|
Club
|
Goals
|
1990
|
Ishaya Jatau
|
Iwuanyanwu Nationale
|
17
|
1991
|
Richard Ojomo
|
Bendel United
|
12
|
1992
|
Arthur Moses
|
Super Stores
|
10
|
1993
|
Tony Nwigwe
|
Iwuanyanwu Nationale
|
13
|
1994
|
Olumide Harris
|
Shooting Stars
|
14
|
1995
|
Ben Agawam
|
Gombe United F.C.
|
12
|
1996
|
Peter Anyiolobi
|
Enyimba
|
9
|
1997
|
Paul Kpoughoul
|
Jasper United/BCC Lions
|
16
|
1998
|
Hassan Minna
|
Gombe United
|
14
|
1999
|
Emmanuel Ago
|
Iwuanyanwu Nationale
|
14
|
2000
|
Peter Ijeh
|
Julius Berger
|
14
|
2001
|
Uche Okereke
|
Enugu Rangers
|
13
|
2002
|
Joetex Frimpong
|
El-Kanemi Warriors
|
16
|
2003
|
Chibuzor Ozurumba
Endurance Idahor
|
Iwuanyanwu Nationale
Julius Berger
|
13
|
2004
|
Kabiru Alausa
|
Julius Berger
|
13
|
2005
|
Timothy Anjembe
Joseph Akpala
|
Lobi Stars
Bendel Insurance
|
12
|
2006
|
Ikechukwu Ibenegbu
|
El-Kanemi Warriors
|
10
|
2007
|
Aruwa Ameh
|
Kaduna United
|
10
|
2008
|
Abubakar Babale
|
Wikki Tourists/Sunshine Stars
|
14
|
2009
|
Orok Akarandut
|
Akwa United
|
17
|
2010
|
Ahmed Musa
|
Kano Pillars
|
18
|
2011
|
Jude Aneke
|
Kaduna United
|
20
|
2012
|
Sibi Gwar
|
Niger Tornadoes
|
17
|
2013
|
Victor Namo
|
Nasarawa United
|
18
|
2014
|
Mfon Udoh
|
Enyimba
|
23
|
2015
|
Gbolahan Salami
|
Warri Wolves
|
17
|
2016
|
Godwin Obaje
|
Wikki Tourists
|
18
|
2017
|
Anthony Okpotu
|
Lobi Stars
|
19
|
2018
|
Junior Lokosa
|
Kano Pillars
|
19
|
2019
|
Mfon Udoh
Sunusi Ibrahim
|
Akwa united
Nasarawa united
|
10
|
2019–20
|
Israel Abia
|
Enugu Rangers
|
12
|
Betimate is consecutively updating the Nigeria Premier League Predictions after every match of the current league, Don’t ignore any game of your favorite teams in this league!
Reference Sources
- https://www.npfl.tv/football/npfl/league/1/home
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_Professional_Football_League
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_Nigeria_Professional_Football_League