Nigeria Premier Football League

Last updated

Nigeria Premier Football League
Founded1972;52 years ago (1972)
Country Nigeria
Confederation CAF
Number of teams20
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Nigeria National League
Domestic cup(s) Nigerian FA Cup
Nigerian Super Cup
International cup(s) Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current champions Rangers International F.C.(2023–24) (8th title)
Most championships Enyimba (9 titles)
Most appearances Rabiu Ali (406)
TV partners Propel Sports Africa

NPFL Live

StarTimes
Website npfl.com.ng
Current: 2024–25 Nigeria Premier Football League

The Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) (formerly the Nigerian Professional Football League) is the highest level of club football in Nigerian football league system. The Nigerian Premier League has suffered like many others, from the financial impact and dwindling fortunes since the late 2000s. [1] [2] It is fed into by the Nigeria National League (NNL). It is organized by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Board headed by Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye.

Contents

Name history

The league was previously known as the "Nigeria Premier League" between 1993 and 2000, and between 2003 and 2013. [3] [4]

It has also been known as the "Nigerian Premiership" (2000–2003); "Nigerian Professional League" (1990–1993); Nigerian National League - First Division (1979–1990) and "the (Nigerian) National League" or "Nigerian Football League" (1972–1979) and more recently "Nigeria Professional Football League" (2014–2023).

International partnerships

On 27 April 2016, The Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional organisers of the La Liga sealed a five-year memorandum of understanding deal with the NPFL on capacity building and idea exchange signed by the League Management Company chairman, Shehu Dikko and the La Liga President Javier Tebas. The NPFL and La Liga partnership has already started bearing fruit as during the January transfer window, Super Eagles fringe player Ezekiel Bassey was signed on loan from Enyimba to Barcelona B on a six-month deal with an option of 3-years come end of the season based on performance. The NPFL AllStars (made up of the league's best players) have also been playing Pre-Season as well as Winter break friendlies with top flight Spanish sides like Atlético Madrid, Málaga, Valencia, Villareal etc. In an effort to expose and test Local players against top players and sides.

In Thursday, 25 May 2017, The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) alongside the League Management Company (LMC), also consummated a multi-faceted strategic agreement in general football development with the Football Federation and Premier League body of the Kingdom of Morocco, NFF President Amaju Pinnick and NFF 2nd Vice-president/ LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko put pen to paper on a memorandum of understanding with their Moroccan counterparts, the result of detailed discussions, deliberations and considerations over time. The two FA Presidents signed their own sides in the Office of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football in Rabat, while the LMC 's Chairman, Shehu Dikko and Chairman of the Ligue Nationale de Football Professionnel (which organises the Botola), Said Naciri signed at the LNFP office, watched by the two FA bosses. [5]

Eunisell, Bet9ja and Hero lager are current sponsors of the NPFL. [6]

History

2017 season

Plateau United F.C. won the league on 9 September 2017, with a 2–0 victory over Rangers International F.C.. [7]

2018 season

In July 2018 the league was postponed indefinitely following crisis in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). [8] [9] Lobi Stars was declared as the sole representative of the league in the 2019 CAF Champions League as the team was at the top of the standings. [10]

2019 season

The league consisted of 24 teams. Four were promoted from the Nigeria National League. Twenty teams remained from the previous season which was not completed. They were divided into two groups of 12 teams. The top three teams in each group contested for the title in the NPFL Super six championship playoff in Lagos. The People's Elephant finished at the top of the log with 12 points from five games.

Enyimba vs Kano Pillars is considered the biggest match of the season because of their rivalry and they remain the 2 teams yet to finish outside the top eight for 12 consecutive seasons.

Management

The League Management Company (shortly and commonly known as the 'LMC') is the legal association football League governing body of the Nigeria Professional Football League. It was created and incorporated by the Nigeria Football Federation in 2012 to take over the nearly-collapsed Nigeria Football League (NFL), the former league governing body. [11]

History

The NFF created the Nigeria Premier League, organized by the Nigeria Football League in 1990 as a step in attaining full professionalism as the sole regulatory for football in Nigeria. At the Onikan Stadium on 12 May 1990, the league was given a name as it was then known as the 'Professional League'. [12]

However, in November 2012 with the agreement and support of the National Sports Commission, Nigeria's sports regulatory authority, the NFF constituted an Interim Management Committee (IMC) for the League as part of measures to avert a total collapse of the top tier professional League following the downfall of the Nigeria Football League (NFL) which arose from difficult legal and administrative impediments. [13] The IMC supervised the formation and incorporation of the LMC to run a transparent and commercially viable professional league.

Achievements

The first step the LMC took was to rebrand the League name, from the Nigerian Premier League to the Nigerian Professional Football League, (NPFL) or simply the Professional 'Football' League) [14] [15] Also, the LMC signed a $34m TV rights deal to broadcast league matches which lasted until 2017. [16] [17]

In 2015, the League Management Company solicited financial support from the Government in order to upgrade existing grounds, provision of required broadcast and medical equipment and facilities in the stadiums. [18]

The League Management Company has its framework and rules governing the 20 clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League each season. [19] On 5 July 2016, the NPFL adopted the TMS Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS), becoming the first league in Africa to do so. [20]

The League Management Company is currently headed by Shehu Dikko. [21]

Awards

In 2012, the NPFL was ranked as the best in Africa and 24th best in the world by the IFFHS, the rating puts it a spot above the Scottish Premier League for the year. [22] [23]

Association Ranking for the 2023–24 CAF club season

The association ranking for the 2023–24 CAF Champions League and the 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2018–19 to the 2022–23 season. The standings below are as of 21 March 2023.

Legend
RankAssociation2018–19
(× 1)
2019–20
(× 2)
2020–21
(× 3)
2021–22
(× 4)
2022-23
(× 5)
Total
20232022Mvt CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC
11Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 57884695≥82180
22Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 451168374≥72.5167.5
33Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 5131657165134
45Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 6030.5825443114
54RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 8660435142101
611Green-Up-Arrow.svg +5Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 300030.5023456.5
76RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 504140031254
87RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 00.54010502041.5
98RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 022020303039
1010Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 300320102029
119RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 000200.50500.528
1212Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 210302000225
1316Green-Up-Arrow.svg +3Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 1000.500010321
1414Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 00000300.51016
1513RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 02.51201.500.50015
1617Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 00.5000001019.5
1715RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 00001200009
1821Green-Up-Arrow.svg +3Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 00010000017
1930Green-Up-Arrow.svg +11Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 00000000015
1926Green-Up-Arrow.svg +7Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 00000000105
2118RedDownArrow.svg -3Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 00000010004
2219RedDownArrow.svg -3Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 10100000003
2319RedDownArrow.svg -4Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 02000000002
2321RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 00000000.5002
2323Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 00.50000.500002
2324Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 00000000.5002
2724RedDownArrow.svg -3Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 01000000001
2727Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 0000.50000001
2727Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Benin.svg  Benin 0000.50000001


Association ranking for the 2024–25 CAF club season

The association ranking for the 2024–25 CAF Champions League and the 2024–25 CAF Confederation Cup is be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2019–20 to the 2023–24 season.

Legend
RankAssociation2019–20
(× 1)
2020–21
(× 2)
2021–22
(× 3)
2022–23
(× 4)
2023–24
(× 5)
Total
20242023Mvt CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC
12Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 116837482.577184
21RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 8846958224148
33Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 3165716523119
44Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 30.582544341.5106
55Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 604351426197
66Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 0030.502346071
77Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 414003124054
88Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Angola.svg  Angola 4010502031.551.5
99Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 202030302037
1011Green-Up-Arrow.svg +1Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 0200.50500.50335
1113Green-Up-Arrow.svg +2Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 00.50001033030.5
1212Disc Plain violet.svgFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 030200020225
1310RedDownArrow.svg -3Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 0320102000.520.5
1427Green-Up-Arrow.svg +13Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 000000001320
1518Green-Up-Arrow.svg +3Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 010000010215
1614RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 000300.5100011.5
1727Green-Up-Arrow.svg +10Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 00.50000002010.5
1816RedDownArrow.svg -2Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 0000010100.59.5
1921Green-Up-Arrow.svg +2Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 00001000108
2015RedDownArrow.svg -5Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 1201.500.500007.5
2117RedDownArrow.svg -4Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 00120000006
2219RedDownArrow.svg -3Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 00000001004
2219RedDownArrow.svg -3Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 00000010004
2423RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 000000.500001.5
2423RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 000000.500001.5
2622RedDownArrow.svg -4Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 10000000001
2623RedDownArrow.svg -3Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 0000.50000001
2827RedDownArrow.svg -1Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 00.5000000000.5

Past champions

Champions by season

AnnéeChampion
1972 Mighty Jets (1)
1973 Bendel Insurance (1)
1974 Rangers International F.C. (1)
1975 Rangers International F.C. (2)
1976 Shooting Stars (1)
1977 Rangers International F.C. (3)
1978 Racca Rovers (1)
1979 Bendel Insurance (2)
1980 Shooting Stars (2)
1981 Rangers International F.C. (4)
1982 Rangers International F.C. (5)
1983 Shooting Stars (3)
1984 Rangers International F.C. (6)
1985 New Nigeria Bank FC (1)
1986 Leventis United (1)
1987 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (1)
1988 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (2)
1989 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (3)
1990 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (4)
1991 Julius Berger (1)
1992 Stationery Stores (1)
1993 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (5)
1994 BCC Lions (1)
1995 Shooting Stars (4)
1996 Udoji United (1)
1997 Dolphin F.C. (1)
1998 Shooting Stars (5)
1999 Lobi Stars (1)
2000 Julius Berger (2)
2001 Enyimba FC (1)
2002 Enyimba FC (2)
2003 Enyimba FC (3)
2004 Dolphin F.C. (2)
2005 Enyimba FC (4)
2006 Ocean Boys FC (1)
2007 Enyimba FC (5)
2008 Kano Pillars FC (1)
2009 Bayelsa United (1)
2010 Enyimba FC (6)
2011 Dolphin F.C. (3)
2012 Kano Pillars FC (2)
2013 Kano Pillars FC (3)
2014 Kano Pillars FC (4)
2015 Enyimba FC (7)
2016 Rangers International F.C. (7)
2017 Plateau United FC (1)
2018 Championship canceled
2019 Enyimba FC (8)
2020 Championship candeled due to Covid-19
2021 Akwa United FC (1)
2022 Rivers United (4)
2023 Enyimba FC (9)
2024 Rangers International F.C. (8)

Most titles won

ClubsChampionshipYears
Enyimba (Aba)92001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2022–23
Rangers International (Enugu)81974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2016, 2023–24
Shooting Stars (Ibadan)51976, 1980, 1983, 1995, 1998
Heartland F.C. (Owerri)51987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
Kano Pillars (Kano)42008, 2012, 2013, 2014
Rivers United (Includes Dolphin and Eagle Cement) (Port Harcourt)41997, 2004, 2011, 2022
Bendel Insurance (Benin City)21973, 1979
Julius Berger (Lagos)21991, 2000
Lobi Stars (Makurdi)11999
BCC Lions (Gboko)11994
Stationery Stores (Lagos)11992
Leventis United (Ibadan)11986
Plateau United (Jos)1 2017
Bayelsa United (Yenegoa)12009
Ocean Boys (Brass)12006
Udoji United (Awka)11996
New Nigeria Bank (Benin City)11985
Racca Rovers (Kano)11978
Mighty Jets (Jos)11972
Akwa United (Uyo)12021

Top scorers

YearTop scorersClubGoals
1990 [24] Flag of Nigeria.svg Ishaya Jatau Iwuanyanwu Nationale 17
1991 Flag of Nigeria.svg Richard Ojomo Bendel United 12
1992 Flag of Nigeria.svg Arthur Moses Stationary Stores 10
1993 Flag of Nigeria.svg Anthony Nwaigwe Iwuanyanwu Nationale 13
1994 Flag of Nigeria.svg Olumide Harris Shooting Stars 14
1995 Flag of Nigeria.svg Ben Agawam Gombe United 12
1996 Flag of Nigeria.svg Peter Anyiolobi Enyimba 9
1997 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Paul Kpoughoul Jasper United/BCC Lions 16
1998 Flag of Nigeria.svg Hassan Minna Gombe United 14
1999 Flag of Nigeria.svg Emmanuel Ago Iwuanyanwu Nationale 14
2000 Flag of Nigeria.svg Peter Ijeh Julius Berger 14
2001 Flag of Nigeria.svg Uche Okereke Rangers International F.C. 13
2002 Flag of Ghana.svg Joetex Frimpong / Victor Ezeji El-Kanemi Warriors / Sharks of Ph 16
2003 Flag of Nigeria.svg Chibuzor Ozurumba

Flag of Nigeria.svg Endurance Idahor
Iwuanyanwu Nationale

Julius Berger
13
2004 Flag of Nigeria.svg Kabiru Alausa Julius Berger 13
2005 Flag of Nigeria.svg Timothy Anjembe

Flag of Nigeria.svg Joseph Akpala
Lobi Stars

Bendel Insurance
12
2006 Flag of Nigeria.svg Ikechukwu Ibenegbu El-Kanemi Warriors 10
2007 Flag of Nigeria.svg Aruwa Ameh Kaduna United 10
2008 Flag of Nigeria.svg Abubakar Babale Wikki Tourists/Sunshine Stars 14
2009 Flag of Nigeria.svg Orok Akarandut Akwa United 17
2010 Flag of Nigeria.svg Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars 18
2011 Flag of Nigeria.svg Jude Aneke Kaduna United 20
2012 [25] Flag of Nigeria.svg Sibi Gwar Niger Tornadoes 17
2013 [25] Flag of Nigeria.svg Victor Namo Nasarawa United 18
2014 [25] Flag of Nigeria.svg Mfon Udoh Enyimba 23
2015 [26] Flag of Nigeria.svg Gbolahan Salami Warri Wolves 17
2016 [25] Flag of Nigeria.svg Godwin Obaje Wikki Tourists 18
2017 Flag of Nigeria.svg Anthony Okpotu Lobi Stars 19
2018 [6] Flag of Nigeria.svg Junior Lokosa Kano Pillars 19
2019 Flag of Nigeria.svg Mfon Udoh

Flag of Nigeria.svg Sunusi Ibrahim

Akwa United

Nasarawa United
10
2019–20 Flag of Nigeria.svg Israel Abia [note 1] Rangers International F.C. 12
2020–21 Flag of Nigeria.svg Silas Nwankwo

Flag of Nigeria.svg Charles Atshimene

Nasarawa United Akwa United 19
2021–22 Flag of Nigeria.svg Chijioke Akuneto [27] Rivers United 19
2022–23 Flag of Nigeria.svg Chukwuemeka Obioma Enyimba F.C. 16
"2023–24" Flag of Nigeria.svg Chijioke Mbaoma Enyimba F.C. 17
  1. Leading goalscorer as at the time of cancellation.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lobi Stars F.C.</span> Association football club

Lobi Stars Football Club is a Nigerian professional soccer club based in Makurdi, Benue. The club competes in the Nigerian Professional Football League. The Stars' home is the 8,000-seater Aper Aku Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niger Tornadoes F.C.</span> Nigerian football club

Niger Tornadoes Football Club is a soccer club based in Minna, Nigeria. They play in the Nigerian Professional Football League. Their home stadium is Bako Kontagora Stadium. They have also played their home games at Confluence Stadium in Lokoja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shooting Stars S.C.</span> Nigerian football club

Shooting Stars Sports Club is a Nigerian professional football club based in Ibadan, in south-western Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plateau United F.C.</span> Nigerian football club

Plateau United Football Club of Jos is a Nigerian professional football (soccer) club based in Jos, that competes in the Nigerian Professional Football League. Before 1991, they were known as the JIB Strikers FC. The name "Plateau United" was the former name of their cross-town rivals Mighty Jets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kano Pillars F.C.</span> Nigerian football club

Kano Pillars Football Club is a Nigerian professional football club based in Kano, northwestern Nigeria. They play in the Nigeria Professional Football League, the first-tier division in Nigerian football. They play their home games at Sani Abacha Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akwa United F.C.</span> Nigerian football club

Akwa United Football Club is a Nigerian football club based in Uyo, in Akwa Ibom State. They play in the Nigeria Professional Football League, the first division of Nigerian football. The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium is the club's home stadium. In the 2020/21 season they were crowned champions of the league for the first time in their history.

Mfon Udoh is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward. He is currently a free agent. He has been described as a complete forward who possesses pace, good positioning, natural finishing as well as the ability to provide assists. He is a "fox in the box" type of player, difficult to stop once in the penalty area. He currently holds the record for highest number of goals scored in the Nigerian Premier Football League in a single season. He is also the first player to score over 35 goals in two consecutive seasons in Nigeria. Between 2012 and 2014, he scored 39 goals in the regular league and 3 in national cup competitions, for a total of 41 goals in two seasons. He was the highest goal scorer in the 2016 CAF champions league with nine goals and was all scored in the group stage of the competition.

The 2015 Nigeria Professional Football League is the 44th season of the Nigeria Premier League, the top Nigerian professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1972, and the 25th since the rebranding of the league as the "Professional League".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rivers United F.C.</span> Nigerian football club

Rivers United Football Club is a Nigerian professional football club based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that participates in the Nigerian Professional Football League, the highest level of domestic Nigerian football. The club was formed by the merger of Sharks F.C. and Dolphins F.C. in 2016. Their home stadium was the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, formerly Liberation Stadium, in Elekahia that has a seating capacity of 30,000. They moved to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in 2020. The stadium, renovated in 2020, has a capacity of 40,000. There is also a female team, Rivers Angels F.C., which is one of the best in Nigeria and Africa.

The 2016 Nigeria Women Premier League was scheduled to start in February 2016, but was moved to 21 May, 2016. A total of 18 teams were registered for the season. The teams are divided into two groups of nine each. The winner of each abridged league will meet at the end of the season to determine the overall winner of the league. The Nigeria Women Premier League is one of the league competitions administered by the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remo Stars F.C.</span> Football club in Nigeria

Remo Stars Football Club is a professional football club based in Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria. The club competes in the Nigeria Professional Football League, the top division of the Nigeria Football League system. They are nicknamed the Sky Blue Stars.

Folusho Ajayi is a Nigerian association football referee. A FIFA badge referee since January 2015, Ajayi has officiated in Nigeria Premier League, Nigeria Women Premier League, Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers and FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifying games.

The 2018 Nigeria Professional Football League was the 47th season of the Nigeria Premier League, the top Nigerian professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1972, and the 28th since the rebranding of the league as the "Professional League". Plateau United won the 2017 season, their first ever title, which came in their second season after being promoted to the top flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rasheedat Ajibade</span> Nigerian footballer (born 1999)

Rasheedat Busayo Ajibade is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish Liga F club Atlético Madrid and the Nigeria women's national team. She is commonly called "Rash", a shortened form of her first name, and "The Girl With The Blue Hair", an ode to her bright blue hairstyle which she dons whenever she takes to the field.

Shehu Dikko is a Nigerian football administrator. He is the Chairman of the League Management Company responsible for the management of the Nigerian Professional Football League. He was previously a consultant for the Nigerian House of Representatives on Sports committee. Ahead of the 2022 NFF Elections, Dikko has declared his intention to run for the presidency.

The 2019–2020 Nigeria Professional Football League was the 49th season of the top-flight division of the Nigerian football league system and the 30th season since its rebranding as the 'Professional League'. The league started on 3 November 2019 but was cancelled in July due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with no champions and no teams relegated. Enyimba were the defending champions, after winning the Super 6 play-offs the previous season

The 2020–21 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) was the 50th season of the top flight league in the Nigeria football league system and the 31st since its rebranding. The league started on 27 December 2020 after much delay and concluded on 5 August 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Bassey</span> Nigerian sports journalist

Paul Bassey is a Nigerian sports journalist and sports administrator. He is also the Chairman of Akwa Ibom-based Akwa United.

The 2021–22 Nigeria Professional Football League was the 51st season of Nigeria's top-flight association football league and the 32nd since attaining professionalism. The season started on 17 December 2021 and was concluded on 17 July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 Akwa United F.C. season</span> 26th season in existence of Akwa United

The 2021–22 season was Akwa United's 26th season in the Nigerian football league system and their 13th (non-consecutive) season in the top tier of Nigerian football.

References

  1. Walker, Andrew (28 July 2008). "Africa | Is Premier League killing Nigerian football?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. Category: Weekend. "Guardian News Website – Dwindling fortunes of Nigeria's premier league". Ngrguardiannews.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  3. "NPFL:new name for Nigerian league". dailypost.ng. 8 January 2023. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. "NFF approves NPFL name change". dailypost.ng. 10 September 2023. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  5. "NFF, LMC sign strategic pact with Morocco football authorities". Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Lokosa Gets Eunisell's N3.8m, Trophy as NPFL Top Scorer". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  7. "Plateau United wins Nigerian Professional Football League". Vanguardngr.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  8. "Nigerian league postponed indefinitely". Bbc.co.uk. 17 July 2018. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  9. "LMC announces indefinite postponement of NPFL resumption". Nigeria Professional Football League. 16 July 2018. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  10. Harry, Iwuala (1 September 2018). "LMC Document on season conclusion". npfl.ng. League Management Company. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  11. "NFF gives Nigeria Premier League green light on its AGM". Goal.com . 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  12. Segun, Solomon (26 April 2014). "History of the Nigerian Premier League". yeswefoot.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  13. "Kudos to the League Management Company". Vanguardngr.com. 7 October 2016. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  14. "About League Management Company". Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  15. "Faqs". Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  16. "Nigeria Football League gets 34 million dollars TV rights deal". venturesafrica.com. 20 August 2013. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  17. "Supersports pulls out of partnership with NPFL". Nationaldailyng.com. 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  18. Ahmadu, Samuel (22 August 2015). "Shehu Dikko appeals to governors for stadia facilities upgrade". Goal. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  19. "About the LMC". npfl.ng. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  20. "Nigeria Football Federation adopts FIFA TMS domestic transfer matching system". FIFA.com . 5 July 2016. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  21. "Shehu Dikko is the new League Management Company boss". Goal.com . Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  22. "Kenyan League ranked Worst in Africa". Nairobi Wire. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  23. "KPL becomes last in IFFHS World rankings". Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  24. "The Nigerian league's top scorers' jinx – SuperSport – Football". SuperSport. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "ODEY'S TARGET: Top Scorers In Last Five NPFL Seasons". Complete Sports. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  26. "Gbolahan Salami finishes as NPFL's top scorer". DailyPost Nigeria. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  27. "3.8m and Golden boot: Charles Akuneto receives his NPFL top scorer prize". Nigeria sports news, transfers & gossips. 14 September 2022. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.