2023–24 Nigeria Premier Football League

Nigerian association football season

Football league season
  • Sporting Lagos
  • Doma United
  • Heartland
  • Gombe United
Champions League
  • Enugu Rangers
  • Remo Stars
Confederation Cup
  • Enyimba
Matches played380Goals scored848 (2.23 per match)Top goalscorerChijioke Mbaoma (17 goals)Biggest home winRivers United 6–0 Gombe United (15 June 2024)Biggest away winHeartland 1–5 Plateau United (28 February 2024)Highest scoringBayelsa United 5–3 Akwa United
(30 September 2023)Longest winning runEnugu Rangers (5 matches)Longest unbeaten runEnugu Rangers (10 matches)Longest winless runHeartland (11 matches)Longest losing runGombe United (6 matches)
' 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 23 June 2024.

The 2023–24 Nigeria Premier Football League was the 53rd season of Nigeria's top-flight association football, the 34th since attaining professionalism and the first under the current name.[1] The season commenced on 30 September 2023 after initial delays.[2][3]

Enyimba were the defending champions, after finishing top of the Championship round at the previous season.[4] On 17 June 2024, Enugu Rangers won their eighth NPFL title with a game to spare.[5]

This season sees the Interim Management Committee (IMC) entering into a partnership with technology firm GTI Investment, Propel Sports Africa and MTN to sponsor the league, with an exclusive broadcast right that shall cover eight live games every weekend and 300 throughout the season.[6] Thus, this makes the NPFL the first African football league to deploy artificial intelligence at games.[7]

This season also sees an increase of N50 million in prize money for the champions.[3] Also, The NPFL secured $1 Billion Broadcast sponsorship deal with Chinese satellite provider StarTimes, for five Years.[citation needed]

Teams

Twenty teams are competing in the league – the top sixteen teams from the previous season and the four teams promoted from the Nigeria National League. The promoted teams are Heartland, Sporting Lagos, Kano Pillars and Katsina United. This is Sporting Lagos's first season in the Nigeria Professional Football League. With their promotion, Sporting Lagos became the first team to have been promoted after the first season of their creation. Heartland, Katsina United and Kano Pillars also returned to the top-flight after getting relegated two seasons ago. They replaced Wikki Tourists, Nasarawa United, El-Kanemi Warriors and Dakkada, who were relegated to the Nigeria National League.

Teams information

Team Location Kit Supplier Shirt Sponsor Stadium Capacity
Abia Warriors Umuahia Owu Eunisell Umuahia Township Stadium
Enyimba International Stadium[a] 		5,000
Akwa United Uyo Owu 1xBet Godswill Akpabio Stadium
Eket Stadium 		30,000
18,000
Bayelsa United Yenagoa GDF _ Samson Siasia Stadium 5,000
Bendel Insurance Benin City Fourteen Sterling Bank Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium 12,000
Doma United Gombe Cone Sport _ Pantami Stadium 12,000
Enugu Rangers Enugu Cone Sport Afrinvest,Shopurban, Senior Barman Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium 22,000
Enyimba Aba KK Stake.com, United Nigeria Airlines Enyimba International Stadium 16,000
Gombe United Gombe Cone Sport _ Pantami Stadium 12,000
Heartland Owerri _ _ Dan Anyiam Stadium
Awka City Stadium[b] 		10,000
Kano Pillars Kano Play Rambo Sani Abacha Stadium 16,000
Katsina United Katsina Owu _ Muhammadu Dikko Stadium 35,000
Kwara United Ilorin Owu _ Kwara State Stadium 18,000
Lobi Stars Makurdi Owu _ Lafia Township Stadium[c] 10,000
Niger Tornadoes Minna Cone Sport _ Ahmadu Bello Stadium [d] 16,000
Plateau United Jos Kapspor _ New Jos Stadium 60,000
Remo Stars Ikenne Cone Sport Bet9ja Remo Stars Stadium 5,000
Rivers United Port Harcourt Owu _ Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium 40,000
Shooting Stars Ibadan Cone Sport Peculiar Adamasingba Stadium 10,000
Sporting Lagos Lagos Umbro Klasha, Choplife Onikan Stadium 10,000
Sunshine Stars Akure Cone Sport _ Akure Township Stadium 5,000
  1. ^ Abia Warriors played some of their games at Aba as their original stadium failed to meet the requirements.
  2. ^ Heartland played their second round games at Awka.[8]
  3. ^ Lobi Stars home stadium was not approved, so they play in their adopted home in Lafia.
  4. ^ Niger Tornadoes home stadium was not approved, so they play in their adopted home in Kaduna.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Enugu Rangers (C) 38 21 7 10 56 33 +23 70 Qualification for the Champions League
2 Remo Stars 38 20 5 13 53 39 +14 65
3 Enyimba 38 19 6 13 46 33 +13 63 Qualification for the Confederation Cup
4 Shooting Stars 38 18 8 12 48 34 +14 62
5 Plateau United 38 18 4 16 53 40 +13 58
6 Lobi Stars 38 17 7 14 48 45 +3 58
7 Katsina United 38 15 10 13 42 39 +3 55
8 Rivers United 38 15 8 15 51 42 +9 53
9 Bendel Insurance 38 14 11 13 32 30 +2 53
10 Sunshine Stars 38 13 13 12 37 37 0 52
11 Kano Pillars 38 15 7 16 49 50 −1 52
12 Abia Warriors 38 15 7 16 42 45 −3 52
13 Kwara United 38 12 15 11 38 37 +1 51
14 Niger Tornadoes 38 14 9 15 38 41 −3 51
15 Bayelsa United 38 13 11 14 46 50 −4 50
16 Akwa United 38 14 7 17 44 42 +2 49
17 Sporting Lagos (R) 38 12 10 16 39 44 −5 46 Relegation to the National League
18 Doma United (R) 38 11 11 16 26 42 −16 44
19 Heartland (R) 38 9 11 18 36 50 −14 38
20 Gombe United[a] (R) 38 8 7 23 21 78 −57 25
Source: NPFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Gombe United were deducted 6 points and 6 goals.[9][10]

Results

Home \ Away ABW AKW BAY BEN DOM ENU ENY GOM HEA KAN KAT KWA LOB NIG PLA REM RIV 3SC SPL SUN
Abia Warriors 2–0 1–0 0–0 3–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 3–2 1–1 0–0
Akwa United 3–1 0–1 3–1 0–1 1–0 3–1 1–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–0 4–1 0–0 3–2 3–1 0–0 0–0 0–0
Bayelsa United 2–2 5–3 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–2 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 3–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–2 1–1
Bendel Insurance 1–0 0–0 0–2 4–0 2–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 2–2 1–0 1–3 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 1–0
Doma United 1–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 0–1
Enugu Rangers 3–2 1–0 3–0 2–0 2–1 3–0 4–1 2–0 4–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–0
Enyimba 2–1 3–2 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 4–0 1–0 5–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 2–0 0–1 4–1 1–0 2–0 1–0
Gombe United 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–3 1–2 2–0 2–0 2–5 1–0 1–2 3–2 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2
Heartland 2–0 1–0 2–2 1–0 3–1 1–2 0–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–5 3–1 1–1 1–0 3–1 1–1
Kano Pillars 0–1 1–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 1–1 1–0 4–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 3–2 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–2 1–0 5–1
Katsina United 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 4–3 2–1 4–0 1–1 3–2 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–2 2–0 3–2
Kwara United 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–0 2–1 3–2 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–0
Lobi Stars 2–0 1–2 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 4–3 1–0 2–1 3–2 3–2 2–1 1–0 3–2
Niger Tornadoes 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 0–2 0–0 5–0 3–2 1–0 0–0 1–1 3–2 2–3 0–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–1
Plateau United 3–1 1–2 5–1 2–0 4–0 2–1 1–0 4–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 3–2 0–0 1–0 1–0
Remo Stars 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 4–0 4–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 2–0 3–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 2–1 2–0
Rivers United 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–0 2–0 6–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 3–2 3–1 2–0 1–0 4–1 1–1
Shooting Stars 4–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 4–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–0
Sporting Lagos 4–2 2–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 3–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–2 4–1 1–0 2–2 1–0
Sunshine Stars 2–1 2–0 1–1 0–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 3–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0
Source: NPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by round

Source: World Football

Statistics

Top scorers

As of 23 June 2024
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Nigeria Chijioke Mbaoma Enyimba 17
2 Nigeria Sikiru Alimi Remo Stars 15
3 Nigeria Albert Hilary Plateau United 12
Nigeria Jonathan Alukwu Sporting Lagos
Nigeria Godwin Obaje Enugu Rangers
Nigeria Hashiri Usman Niger Tornadoes
7 Nigeria Ibrahim Mustapha Kano Pillars 11
Nigeria Sani Suleiman Akwa United
Nigeria Ubong Friday
11 Nigeria Robert Mizo Bayelsa United 10
Nigeria Rabiu Ali Kano Pillars
Nigeria Michael Okoro Ibe Katsina United
Nigeria Christian Pyagbara Shooting Stars

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Score Date Ref(s)
Nigeria Robert Mizo Bayelsa United Akwa United 5–3 (H) 30 September 2023 [11]
Nigeria Yusuf Abdullahi5 Kano Pillars Gombe United 5–2 (A) 3 December 2023 [12]
Nigeria Albert Hilary Plateau United Bayelsa United 5–1 (H) 17 December 2023 [13]
Nigeria Nyima Nwagua Rivers United Doma United 3–2 (H) 18 February 2024 [14]
Notes

5 Player scored 5 goals
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Monthly awards

Month Player of the Month Manager of the Month Ref.
Player Club Manager Club
September/October Nigeria Robert Mizo Bayelsa United Nigeria Daniel Ogunmodede Remo Stars
[15]
November Nigeria Kingdom Osayi Doma United Nigeria Akinade Onigbinde Doma United
[16]
December Nigeria Albert Hilary Plateau United Nigeria Mbwas Mangut Plateau United
[17]
February Nigeria Ibrahim Mustapha Kano Pillars Nigeria Meremu Okara Bayelsa United
[18]
March Nigeria Sani Suleiman Akwa United Nigeria Fidelis Ilechukwu Enugu Rangers
[19]
April Nigeria Clinton Jephta Niger Tornadoes Nigeria Gbenga Ogunbote Shooting Stars
[20]

References

  1. ^ "NFF approves NPFL name change". Dailypost.ng. 10 September 2023.
  2. ^ "2023–24 NPFL season finally set to begin on September 30 after delays". National Trial Online. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b "NPFL announces September 30 kick off date, N150 million prize money for champions". Prime Business Africa. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  4. ^ "NPFL: Enyimba Draw With Rivers Utd To Win Record Ninth Title – Channels Television".
  5. ^ "Enugu Rangers won eighth NPFL title". The Punch. 16 June 2024.
  6. ^ "MTN to co-sponsor Nigerian football league with GTI, Propel Sports Africa". Premium Times Nigeria. 20 September 2023.
  7. ^ "GTI unveils AI cameras for NPFL coverage". The Punch. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  8. ^ Adesanya, Taiwo (1 February 2024). "Heartland adopt Awka City Stadium as new home ground". dailypost.ng.
  9. ^ "Gombe docked three points, fined N2.5M". punchng.com. 9 January 2024.
  10. ^ "NPFL:Gombe United docked 3 points for assault on match officials". leadership.ng. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Mizo hat-trick as goals rain flood Yenagoa". Punchng.com. 1 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Kano Pillars Yusuf nets 5 goals, secures win against Gombe United". leadership.ng. 3 December 2023.
  13. ^ "NPFL: Plateau's Hilary bags hat-trick in Bayelsa rout". Punchng.com. 18 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Nwagua bags hattrick in thrilling Rivers win". The Punch. 19 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Ogunmodede, Mizo scoop NPFL awards". Punchng.com. 12 November 2023.
  16. ^ "NPFL 24:Doma United duo Onigbinde, Osayi scoop monthly awards". Royaltimes. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Plateau United's Hilary,Mangut win NPFL Player, Coach of the month award". dailypost.ng. 16 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Mustapha,Okara win NPFL player,coach of the month award". dailypost.ng. 13 March 2024.
  19. ^ Taiwo, Adesanya (7 April 2024). "Suleiman, Ilechukwu win NPFL Player, Coach of the Month award for March". dailypost.ng.
  20. ^ Adesanya, Taiwo (11 May 2024). "Clinton Jephta, Ogunbote win NPFL Player, Coach of the Month award". dailypost.ng.
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