The 2024–25 Nigeria Premier Football League is the 54th season of Nigeria's top-flight association football league, and the 35th since attaining professionalism and the first under the current name. The season commenced early on 31 August 2024 with the defending champions, Enugu Rangers hosting El-Kanemi Warriors.[1][2]
| Season | 2024–25 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 31 August 2024 – TBD 2025 |
| Matches played | 129 |
| Goals scored | 250 (1.94 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Anas Yusuf (9 goals) |
| Highest scoring | Nasarawa United 3–4 El-Kanemi Warriors (21 September 2024) Enugu Rangers 3–4 Kano Pillars (16 October 2024) |
| Longest winning run | Remo Stars & Rivers United (4 matches) |
| Longest unbeaten run | El-Kanemi Warriors (10 matches) |
| Longest winless run | Niger Tornadoes (6 matches) |
| Longest losing run | 4 teams (3 matches) |
← 2023–24 2025–26 →
All statistics correct as of 24 November 2024. | |
This season also sees an increase of N50 million in prize money for the champions from the previous season, with the winners taking home N200 million.[3] Additionally, the NPFL secured a sponsorship deal with British multinational television production company, IMG/JVco for broadcast of league games.[4]
Teams
editChanges from previous season
editTwenty teams, consisting of the top sixteen teams from the previous season and four promoted teams from the Nigeria National League, are competing in the league. The promoted teams are Nasarawa United and El-Kanemi Warriors who both got relegated two seasons ago, and newcomers Ikorodu City and Beyond Limits. Beyond Limits would be subsequently replaced by Heartland who were initially relegated the previous season as Beyond Limits and Remo Stars share the same owners.[5]
 Promoted from2023–24 National League |
 Relegated to2024–25 National League |
|---|---|
| Nasarawa United El-Kanemi Warriors Ikorodu City |
Sporting Lagos Doma United Gombe United |
Teams information
edit
- ^ Kano Pillars temporarily play at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina as their home stadium Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano is undergoing renovation works.[6]
- ^ Lobi Stars play their home matches at Lafia Township Stadium, Lafia instead of their regular home ground Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi due to renovation works.[7]
- ^ Sunshine Stars play their home games at Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode rather than their regular home ground, Akure Township Stadium, Akure due to renovation works.[8]
Managerial changes
editNot including interim management.
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of departure | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasarawa United |  Usman Adams
|
Sacked | 31 August 2024 | Kabiru Dogo
|
3 August 2024[9] |
| Kwara United | Kabiru Dogo
|
Moved to Nasarawa United | 31 August 2024 | Tunde Sanni
|
31 August 2024[10] |
| Lobi Stars | Eugene Agagbe
|
Sacked | 6 October 2024 | Daniel Amokachi
|
6 October 2024[11] |
| Ikorodu City | Bright Ozebagbe
|
Resignation[12] | 6 October 2024 | Nurudeen Aweroro
|
22 October 2024[13] |
| Sunshine Stars | Kennedy Boboye
|
Resignation | 11 November 2024[14] | ||
| Bendel Insurance | Monday Odigie
|
Resignation | 22 November 2024[15] |
League table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rivers United | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 25 | Qualification for the Champions League |
| 2 | Remo Stars | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 23 | |
| 3 | El-Kanemi Warriors | 13 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 13 | +2 | 22 | Qualification for the Confederation Cup |
| 4 | Enyimba | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 20 | |
| 5 | Enugu Rangers | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 20 | |
| 6 | Kano Pillars | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 17 | +1 | 19 | |
| 7 | Ikorodu City | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 18 | |
| 8 | Niger Tornadoes | 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 18 | |
| 9 | Shooting Stars | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 18 | |
| 10 | Kwara United | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 17 | |
| 11 | Heartland | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 17 | |
| 12 | Katsina United | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 16 | |
| 13 | Sunshine Stars | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 16 | |
| 14 | Plateau United[a] | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 14 | −1 | 15 | |
| 15 | Abia Warriors | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 15 | |
| 16 | Bayelsa United | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 14 | −6 | 14 | |
| 17 | Lobi Stars | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 19 | −5 | 13 | Relegation to the National League |
| 18 | Akwa United | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 12 | |
| 19 | Bendel Insurance[b] | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 15 | −4 | 12 | |
| 20 | Nasarawa United | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 16 | −6 | 12 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Notes:
Results
editPositions by round
editTo preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.
| Leader | |
| Qualification for the Champions League | |
| Qualification for the Confederation Cup | |
| Relegation to Nigeria National League |
Season statistics
editScoring
editTop scorers
edit- As of 24 November 2024
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anas Yusuf
|
Nasarawa United | 9 |
| 2 | Rabiu Ali
|
Kano Pillars | 8 |
| 3 | Ibrahim Mustapha
|
El-Kanemi Warriors | 7 |
| 4 | Ossy Martins
|
Lobi Stars | 6 |
| Emmanuel Ogbole
|
Kwara United | ||
| 6 | Sunday Megwo
|
Abia Warriors | 5 |
| Ahmed Musa
|
Kano Pillars | ||
| 8 | Rivio Ayemwenre
|
Ikorodu City | 4 |
| Falolu Azeez
|
Katsina United |
Hat-tricks
edit- As of 17 October 2024
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anas Yusuf | Nasarawa United | El-Kanemi Warriors | 3–4 (H)[18] | 21 September 2024 |
| Abia Warriors | 3–0 (H)[19] | 16 October 2024 |
- Note
(H) – Home ; (A) – Away
References
edit- ^ "New NPFL season kicks off August 31". Daily Post. 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Rangers settle for point against El-Kanemi in NPFL opener". brila.net. 1 September 2024.
- ^ "NPFL increases prize money for 2024-25 season to N200m". Daily Post. 16 June 2024.
- ^ Nsikak, Asuquo (24 July 2024). "Latest News: NPFL lands new sponsorship deal". The Athletic Nigeria.
- ^ Oyebola, Mike (27 July 2024). "NPFL: Heartland close to top-flight return after Beyond Limits agreement". Daily Post.
- ^ "NPFL:Pillars adopt Mohammed Dikko Stadium as home ground". dailypost.ng. 29 August 2024.
- ^ "Lobi Stars adopt Lafia City Stadium as home ground for new season". Daily Post. 19 September 2023.
- ^ "Why Sunshine Stars adopted Dipo Dina Stadium as home ground". Daily Post. 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Head Coach Kabiru Dogo Makes Comeback to Nasarawa United". frcnorthcentral.ng. 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Homecoming: Kabiru Dogo Makes Surprise Return to Nasarawa United". Eggonnews.com. 31 August 2024.
- ^ "Amokachi returns to NPFL as Lobi Stars' new Head Coach". Premium Times Nigeria. 6 October 2024.
- ^ "Ikorodu City Confirms the departure of Bright Ozebagbe". The Nation Newspaper. 8 October 2024.
- ^ "Nurudeen Aweroro Named Interim Head Coach Of Ikorodu City". bsnsports.com. 22 October 2024.
- ^ "NPFL:Kennedy Boboye resigns as Sunshine Stars head coach". Daily Post. 11 November 2024.
- ^ "Odigie resigns as Bendel Insurance coach". The Guardian Nigeria News. 22 November 2024.
- ^ "NPFL: Plateau United docked three points, fined 4.74m over crowd violence". Daily Post Nigeria. 11 November 2024.
- ^ "NPFL: Insurance face relegation after points deduction". Punch Newspapers. 12 November 2024.
- ^ "NPFL: Rivers United secure top spot, El-Kanemi win away". Daily Post. 21 September 2024.
- ^ "NPFL: Yusuf's second hat-trick for Nasarawa United shoots down Abia Warriors in Lafia". Blueprint Nigeria. 16 October 2024.