A compilation of the top 5 favourite clubs that could emerge Winners of the 2023-24 Nigeria Professional Football League title have been shortlisted after the conclusion of seven games in the top flight league.
The 2023/24 NPFL season, which kicked off at the end of September 2023, is made up of 20 professional clubs from around the Federation. According to the Nigeria Football Federation, this season’s champion will earn N150m as prize money for their terrific effort against N100M Enyimba FC of Aba smiled home with last season.
Here are five clubs shortlisted as the 2023/24 favorite for the title:
- Enyimba FC (The People’s Elephant)
Regardless of their position on the NPFL log after match day 8, Enyimba is capable of defending their title. The People’s Elephants are sited at the 17th spot after featuring just six times this season due to their busy engagement in the CAF Champions League and the inaugural African Football League, in which they have been eliminated in both continental tournaments.
The Aba-based club may not appear impressive in their voyage this season at the Continental tournaments, but their trademark still flies high in the local league with their unprecedented records, player recruitment structure, and coaching crew. Former Super Eagles and Ajax player, Finidi George guided the Elephants to their 9th league title last season – becoming the most successful club in the league since its creation.
- Remo Stars (The Sky Blues)
Remo Stars of Ogun state, since marking their debut in the Nigerian top-flight league in the 2016 season, have proven traits of Champion in past seasons, except for 2018 when they were relegated but got promoted the next season. The Ikenne-based club finished as runners-up to Enyimba FC, losing the league just by lone goal difference last season during the Super 6 Championship playoff in Lagos.
They registered their best position finish (2nd place) after earning the same point (9) as the 2022/23 Champions during the playoff in the Onikan Stadium, Lagos. Without looking depleted, the Sky Blues have begun this season with an impressive advent after match day 8 conclusion. They sit in second place with two points adrift league leaders Lobi Stars with a game at hand.
- Sporting Lagos (The Noisy Lagosians).
The biggest surprise in this list is the inclusion of Sporting Lagos, who made their debut this season in the first tier of the Nigeria Professional Football League. The Noisy Lagosians inclusion didn’t just appear as a surprise because it’s their debut season, but to think the club was created last year appears to be unthinkable.
In their debut season in the Nigeria National League, Sporting gained promotion to the first tier after a season of participation in the second tier of the Nigerian League.
Being the underdog among the 2023 Super 8 participating teams, the Noisy Lagosians defied all odds to emerge Champions of the tournament, beating elite clubs like Heartland, Remo Stars, Rivers United, Katsina United, and Enyimba FC to the title.
The club has retained its exceptional format since the season began with 11 points earned after eight games. With 6 points below the league leaders, the Noisy Lagosians occupy the 10th place on the NPFL log.
- Enugu Rangers (The Flying Antelopes).
With the appointment of one of the best managers in the league this season, Fidelis Ilechukwu who replaced Abdul Maikaba, Enugu Rangers could just be heading for their first title since 2016. The appointment of Amobi Ezeaku as the club’s chairman by the state governor has seen the club undergo a total revamp.
The seven-time Champions is one of the most successful and oldest clubs in the league. They also hold the record of being the only side to never witness a relegation from the top-flight league.
With their recently adopted style of play, the Rangers have improved better than the previous seasons. They have been consistent since the new season began, winning four of their seven games, drawing one, and losing two. They have recorded the most goals scored (15) with a +5 goal difference, only Remo Stars (7) have more. Rangers sit behind Remo Stars in the third spot with 14 points on the log.
- Lobi Stars (Ortom Boys).
Despite playing their home games away from home, Lobi’s resilience since the start of the season has been tremendous and came as a considerable amazement. Coach Eugene Agagbe is one of the fewest managers to record an away win this season after they triumphed over Bayelsa United at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa during match day seven.
Lobi last won the league in 1999 and was close in 2020, but the season was abandoned following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. They had accumulated 43 points after 25 games – taking the third spot with a few points behind Plateau United and Rivers United.
Lobi currently tops the league table with 14 points after participating in seven games.
