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2020–21 Nigeria Professional Football League

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.[1]

Nigeria Professional Football League
Season2020–2021
Relegated
Champions League
Confederation Cup
Matches played380
Goals scored789 (2.08 per match)
Top goalscorerSilas Nwankwo & Charles Atshimene (19 goals)
Biggest home winKwara 5–0 Adamawa (21 March 2021)
Highest scoringNasarawa 5–3 Abia Warriors (28 March 2021)
Longest winning runKano Pillars & Enyimba (4 matches)
Longest unbeaten runAkwa United (18 matches)
Longest winless runSunshine Stars (18 matches)
Longest losing runAdamawa United (5 matches)
All statistics correct as of 6 August 2021.

Enyimba were the defending champions from the 2019 season but failed to defend their title after finishing third on the table.[2]

The season was initially scheduled to commence on 6 December 2020 but after much delay, the League Management Company announced that the league would start on 27 December 2020 with all matches played behind closed doors.[3]

This season featured the 20 teams from the 2019–20 season as no clubs were promoted nor relegated as the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[2]

The League Management Company announced that only 13 stadiums across the country were eligible to host league matches as part of a broader club licensing regime, they were certified to have met minimum requirements to host games. Another 11 were recommended for varying degrees of upgrade and repair works before they can be certified[4]

This season saw a return of live NPFL matches. Selected matches were viewed live on NPFL TV and on NTA.

On 1 August 2021, Akwa United won their first NPFL title after a convincing 5–2 home win over MFM with a game left.[5][6] Akwa United also set a league record with their 18-match unbeaten run, surpassing Enyimba in 2005 and Kano Pillars 2019–20 13-match unbeaten sequence.

Warri Wolves, Jigawa Golden Stars, Ifeanyiubah and Adamawa United were all confirmed relegated at the end of the campaign.

Nasarawa's Silas Nwankwo won the Eunisell golden boot award as the league topscorer for scoring lesser penalties having been tied with Akwa United's Charles Atshimene.[7]

Teams information

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2020–21 Nigeria Professional Football League teams

Clubs

The league consisted of 20 teams from the previous season.

TeamLocationStadiumHead Coach
Abia WarriorsUmuahiaOkigwe Stadium[a] Imama Amapakabo
Adamawa UnitedYolaPantami Stadium Justin Madugu
Akwa United F.C.UyoGodswill Akpabio International Stadium Kennedy Boboye
DakkadaUyoGodswill Akpabio International Stadium Lawrence Kingsley
Enugu RangersEnuguNnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Salisu Yusuf
EnyimbaAbaEnyimba International Stadium Fatai Osho
Heartland F.C.OwerriOkigwe Stadium Fidelis Ilechukwu
Ifeanyi Ubah F.C.NnewiIfeanyi Ubah FC International Stadium Uche Okagbue
Jigawa Golden StarsDutseAhmadu Bello Stadium Gilbert Opana
Kano PillarsKanoAhmadu Bello Stadium Ibrahim Musa
Katsina UnitedKatsinaMuhammadu Dikko Stadium Azeez Mohammed
Kwara UnitedIlorinKwara State Stadium Abdullahi Biffo
Lobi StarsMakurdiAper Aku Stadium Kabiru Dogo
MFM F.C.LagosAgege Stadium Gabriel Olalekan
Nasarawa UnitedLafiaLafia Township Stadium Bala Nikyu
Plateau UnitedJosNew Jos Stadium Abdul Maikaba
Rivers UnitedPort HarcourtYakubu Gowon Stadium Stanley Eguma
Sunshine StarsAkureAkure Township Stadium Deji Ayeni
Warri WolvesWarriDelta State Polytechnic Stadium Ortega Deniran
Wikki Tourists F.C.BauchiAbubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium Bala Jibrin

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of departureIncoming managerDate of
appointment
Jigawa Golden Stars Dodo IsahSacked20 January Gilbert Opana20 January[8]
Katsina United Bishir SadaukiEnd of interim management21 January Baldwin Bazuaye21 January[9]
MFM Tony BulusResignation[10]10 February Gabriel Olalekan22 February[11]
Kano Pillars Lionel SoccoïaResignation[12]16 March Ibrahim Musa17 March
Warri Wolves Evans OgenyiSacked[13]17 March Ortega Deniran20 May[14]
Katsina United Baldwin BazuayeDemotion to assistant coach3 May Azeez Mohammed3 May[15]
Wikki Tourists Usman Abd'AllahResignation18 May[16] Bala Jibrin20 May
Sunshine Stars Gbenga OgunboteResignation[17]27 May Deji Ayeni[18]1 June

Summary

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Akwa United (C)38191455324+2971Qualification for the Champions League
2Rivers United38199105034+1666
3Enyimba38181284133+866Qualification for the Confederation Cup
4Kwara United38198114828+2065
5Nasarawa United38205135538+1765
6Kano Pillars38197123829+964
7Enugu Rangers38188124331+1262
8Lobi Stars38177144339+458
9Plateau United38149154535+1051
10MFM381312133435−151
11Dakkada38155183747−1050
12Katsina United38147173542−749
13Heartland38139164350−748
14Abia Warriors381211154842+647
15Wikki Tourists38129174047−745
16Sunshine Stars381112152839−1145
17Warri Wolves38118193045−1541Relegation to the National League
18Jigawa Golden Stars381010182748−2140
19Ifeanyiubah38912173350−1739
20Adamawa United38510232055−3525
Source: NPFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) Champions

Results

Home \ AwayABWADAAKWDAKENUENYHEAIFUJGSKANKATKWALOBMFMNASPLARIVSUNWWVWIK
Abia Warriors5–10–00–11–00–12–11–11–34–13–12–12–00–03–12–10–14–14–11–0
Adamawa United1–10–12–01–11–20–11–12–01–11–00–21–01–10–00–22–00–03–30–0
Akwa United2–12–00–00–01–03–11–03–01–03–02–13–05–22–11–03–02–13–01–1
Dakkada2–14–00–21–11–31–02–12–13–21–02–00–11–10–01–04–21–22–02–1
Enugu Rangers2–11–01–03–02–02–02–13–02–01–01–00–01–12–02–00–14–11–02–1
Enyimba1–02–11–11–02–10–02–22–12–11–01–02–12–10–02–11–11–11–11–0
Heartland2–22–12–12–12–12–01–12–11–02–00–02–02–01–20–02–20–11–12–0
Ifeanyi Ubah1–13–01–10–10–01–12–12–20–13–02–11–00–2[a]2–10–00–01–01–01–0
Jigawa GS0–01–01–11–10–10–02–13–01–00–10–02–11–01–01–00–3[b]1–01–11–1
Kano Pillars1–01–00–02–01–12–12–11–02–02–02–03–01–01–01–01–01–01–01–0
Katsina United1–02–01–02–02–03–13–23–01–01–11–21–10–02–10–02–10–01–05–1
Kwara United1–15–01–13–02–01–00–01–03–01–03–02–11–02–02–01–11–02–03–1
Lobi Stars0–01–02–12–11–01–13–02–02–11–02–12–01–03–23–24–12–13–00–0
MFM0–02–01–21–01–11–01–21–12–02–10–00–01–01–03–12–21–02–11–0
Nasarawa United5–31–02–13–03–01–23–13–03–11–11–02–11–01–02–02–14–03–12–1
Plateau United2–13–00–02–02–10–03–04–03–00–02–00–20–03–11–01–13–12–04–1
Rivers United0–01–01–12–01–01–03–12–02–02–01–03–03–12–02–03–11–02–11–1
Sunshine Stars2–10–00–01–03–10–11–11–00–01–00–01–22–20–00–03–21–01–01–0
Warri Wolves2–01–00–00–10–11–11–03–10–01–13–01–01–00–21–21–01–02–11–0
Wikki Tourists1–02–02–22–12–11–24–24–32–01–23–11–11–02–01–20–01–00–01–0
Source: NPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:

Positions by round

To 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.

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
Abia Warriors1620192020191919191716171412101210111012121313131313131313141514151414141414
Adamawa United915181919202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020
Akwa United111711121315139676655654331112121111111111111
Dakkada12435712812791215788888891012912121212121110119109991011
Enugu Rangers17108246105554522242565666669677777777777
Enyimba5651053211223343766579107776755545444353
Heartland13192018181718181512118111113111112118778101111101110121212121213131313
Ifeanyi Ubah611141717181517181817181819181919191919191919191818181717171818191819191919
Jigawa GS771281114121411139111216161515131413141414141414161416161717171616161518
Kano Pillars103936594433143533222221212233334333436
Katsina United21461115131615161415161717171617181816161617161515141514131313131312121112
Kwara United1513149763311211121113333535464656666664
Lobi Stars18124634589118109109109109118911887889888888888
MFM387789111314161414101515171415151413111291010111012111011111111111210
Nasarawa United41242136867466415476545343322222222225
Plateau United2018101310107101315181313912912912101181011989989910910101099
Rivers United82111212245787767744454454546463555542
Sunshine Stars191315151284710810121614141416171618171818181919191818181616161717161716
Warri Wolves14916914161716171919191918191818161717181716171617171919191919181918181817
Wikki Tourists151617161611141112101391513111313141315151515151716151615151415141515151615
Leader
2021–22 CAF Champions League
2021–22 CAF Confederation Cup
Relegation to Nigeria National League
Source: World Football


Statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Silas NwankwoNasarawa United19
Charles AtshimeneAkwa United
3 Rabiu AliKano Pillars14
Michael OhanuKwara United
5 Zulkifilu RabiuPlateau United13
Sad'eeq YusufSunshine Stars
7 Ossy MartinsLobi Stars11
Chukwuemeka ObiomaAbia Warriors
9 Jude StevenKwara United10
Christian NnajiEnugu Rangers
Samuel StoneJigawa Golden Stars

Hattricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Jude StevenKwara UnitedAdamawa United5–0 (H)[24]21 March 2021
Silas NwankwoNasarawa UnitedAbia Warriors5–3 (H)[25]28 March 2021
Nazifi YahayaWikki TouristsIfeanyiubah4–3 (H)[26]13 June 2021
Michael OhanuKwara UnitedWikki Tourists3–1 (H)22 July 2021
Chukwuemeka ObiomaAbia WarriorsAdamawa United5–1 (H)28 July 2021
Charles AtshimeneAkwa UnitedMFM5–2 (H)[27]1 August 2021
Notes


(H) – Home team

Top assists

Updated to match(es) played on 11 April 2021

RankPlayerClubAssists
1 Auwalu Ali MalamKano Pillars6
2 Umwana AsuquoDakkada5
Stephen JudeKwara United
4 Ndifreke EffiongAkwa United4
Christian EkongDakkada
Enyimba
Elijah AkanniMFM

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean sheets
1 Dele AiyenugbaKwara United16
Adewale AdeyinkaAkwa United
3 Stanley NwabaliLobi Stars14
4 Abubakar AdamuPlateau United10
Sharp UzoigweIfeanyiubah
6 Chinedu AnoziePlateau United8
Chijioke EjioguHeartland

Awards

Monthly awards

MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthReferences
ManagerClubPlayerClub
January Gbenga OgunboteSunshine Stars Sad'eeq YusufSunshine Stars[28]
February Fatai OshoEnyimba Ndifreke EffiongAkwa United

Season's award

Eunisell golden boot

The golden boot award was won by Nasarawa's Silas Nwankwo. He won having scored lesser penalties than Akwa United's Charles Atshimene as they were tied at 19 goals.[7]

References

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