The 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League season is set to return after a customary mid-season break. It has been a season of ups and downs for clubs, players, and even the organizers, but everything is set for the league’s match day 20 action, which will officially usher in the second stanza of the season.
Like we saw in the first round of matches – tasty derbies, title aspirations, and the rekindling of old rivalries – more of it is bound to come to the fore at the “business end” of the season. Just on Thursday, Kano Pillars defeated Enyimba 2-0 in a rescheduled match day 14 clash in Kano – a first league loss for the 9-time champions since October.
While the Aba side still have a game to go (to be played against Kwara United in Ilorin on Monday), the rest of the league will take to the pitch this weekend to begin the battle for points in the second stanza.
On the pitch, players have switched clubs, while others have gone abroad with the highlight being the departure of Enyimba’s Daniel Daga. Former coach in the division – Kennedy Boboye – has returned to the ground where he won his second league title in Akwa United.
The Redemption Journey
Akwa United – league champions in 2021 – are down in the relegation fight, and they have taken steps to see how they can turn the season around. The Promise Keepers, who ended the first round with 19 points from 19 games to sit in the 19th position, have brought back Boboye – the man who led them to that title triumph. In terms of the players, the Uyo side have brought in former Sporting Lagos winger Orji Chisom, Midfielders Ogar Sabastine and Samuel Tochukwu both from PSports Academy as well as defender Adamu Umar from Sunshine Stars while right-back Asuquo Etiene has been recalled to the team from his loan spell with Dakkada FC. Striker Uche Sabastine has also returned to the club.
On the flip side, Nasarawa United – who made a return to the elite division at the start of the season – have gone ahead to strengthen their squad ahead of the resumption. The Solid Miners are currently bottom of the log and five points adrift of safety following their point deduction for crowd trouble towards the end of the first round. Former youth international Aliyu Abubakar headlined a list of players that have been brought in.
The Title Race
Remo Stars finished the first round on top of the log with 36 points – two more than second-placed Rivers United. The Ikenne side have finished second in each of the past two seasons and are now eyeing the title under the guidance of Daniel Ogunmodede. However, they have Finidi George’s Rivers United and Gbenga Ogunbote’s Shooting Stars to contend with.
The Sky Blue Stars have already lost Sodiq Ismail to a foreign transfer, and Faisal Sani to a deal abroad too, while consistent and reliable performer Jide Fatokun is also close to a move to North Africa. It remains to be seen how the side will cope in the absence of some of these starters.
On the flip side, Shooting Stars have been quite active in the transfer window with the addition of Sodiq Ibrahim (Sunshine Stars), Nonso Nzediegwu (Nasarawa United), Ekeson Okorie (Rangers) and others. In Port-Harcourt, the Pride of Rivers have bolstered their defense with the addition of former youth international Bolu Sholumade.
These clubs might be the top three heading into the second round, but it is no guarantee that they will remain there at the end of the season. However, going by the recent campaigns, it will take something drastic to take all of them away from the top three.
The Returnees
Whether it is the start of a new season or its second-round resumption, the NPFL season is incomplete without the return of players after a sojourn to foreign land, whether successful or not. Williams Ukeme, league winner at Akwa United, has returned to Shooting Stars, and Dayo Ojo – who was in Benin Republic – has also joined up with the Oluyole Warriors. Former Sporting Lagos winger Godwin Odibo is also on the verge of joining the Oluyole Warriors after an unpleasant time in Rwanda.
Meanwhile, former Kwara United midfielder Anthony Omaka has returned to the NPFL with Heartland. Veteran defender Abiodun Adebayo is also back in the elite division with Kwara United, while Bolu Sholumade has pitched his tent with Rivers United after a brief stint in Portugal. Former Sunshine Stars striker Samson Olasupo is on the verge of joining Remo Stars after a short spell in Israel.
MD 20 FIXTURES
Nasarawa United v Katsina United
Rangers v Niger Tornadoes
Sunshine Stars v Ikorodu City
Abia Warriors v Bayelsa United
Heartland v Lobi Stars
Plateau United v Rivers United
Akwa United v Remo Stars
Kwara United PP Shooting Stars
Kano Pillars PP Elkanemi
Bendel Insurance PP Enyimba
