2020–21 Nigeria Professional Football League
Season | 2020–2021 |
---|---|
Relegated | |
Champions League | |
Confederation Cup | |
Matches played | 380 |
Goals scored | 789 (2.08 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Silas Nwankwo & Charles Atshimene (19 goals) |
Biggest home win | Kwara 5–0 Adamawa (21 March 2021) |
Highest scoring | Nasarawa 5–3 Abia Warriors (28 March 2021) |
Longest winning run | Kano Pillars & Enyimba (4 matches) |
Longest unbeaten run | Akwa United (18 matches) |
Longest winless run | Sunshine Stars (18 matches) |
Longest losing run | Adamawa United (5 matches) |
← 2019–20 2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 6 August 2021. |
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]
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
[edit]Clubs
[edit]The league consisted of 20 teams from the previous season.
- ^ Abia Warriors played their first two home games at the Enyimba International Stadium.
Managerial changes
[edit]Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of departure | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jigawa Golden Stars | Sacked | 20 January | 20 January[8] | ||
Katsina United | End of interim management | 21 January | 21 January[9] | ||
MFM | Resignation[10] | 10 February | 22 February[11] | ||
Kano Pillars | Resignation[12] | 16 March | 17 March | ||
Warri Wolves | Sacked[13] | 17 March | 20 May[14] | ||
Katsina United | Demotion to assistant coach | 3 May | 3 May[15] | ||
Wikki Tourists | Resignation | 18 May[16] | 20 May | ||
Sunshine Stars | Resignation[17] | 27 May | 1 June |
Summary
[edit]League table
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Akwa United (C) | 38 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 53 | 24 | +29 | 71 | Qualification for the Champions League |
2 | Rivers United | 38 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 50 | 34 | +16 | 66 | |
3 | Enyimba | 38 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 41 | 33 | +8 | 66 | Qualification for the Confederation Cup |
4 | Kwara United | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 48 | 28 | +20 | 65 | |
5 | Nasarawa United | 38 | 20 | 5 | 13 | 55 | 38 | +17 | 65 | |
6 | Kano Pillars | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 38 | 29 | +9 | 64 | |
7 | Enugu Rangers | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 43 | 31 | +12 | 62 | |
8 | Lobi Stars | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 43 | 39 | +4 | 58 | |
9 | Plateau United | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 45 | 35 | +10 | 51 | |
10 | MFM | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 34 | 35 | −1 | 51 | |
11 | Dakkada | 38 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 37 | 47 | −10 | 50 | |
12 | Katsina United | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 35 | 42 | −7 | 49 | |
13 | Heartland | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 43 | 50 | −7 | 48 | |
14 | Abia Warriors | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 48 | 42 | +6 | 47 | |
15 | Wikki Tourists | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 40 | 47 | −7 | 45 | |
16 | Sunshine Stars | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 28 | 39 | −11 | 45 | |
17 | Warri Wolves | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 30 | 45 | −15 | 41 | Relegation to the National League |
18 | Jigawa Golden Stars | 38 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 27 | 48 | −21 | 40 | |
19 | Ifeanyiubah | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 33 | 50 | −17 | 39 | |
20 | Adamawa United | 38 | 5 | 10 | 23 | 20 | 55 | −35 | 25 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) Champions
Results
[edit]Positions by round
[edit]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.
Leader | |
2021–22 CAF Champions League | |
2021–22 CAF Confederation Cup | |
Relegation to Nigeria National League |
Statistics
[edit]Scoring
[edit]Top scorers
[edit]Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Nasarawa United | 19 | |
Akwa United | |||
3 | Kano Pillars | 14 | |
Kwara United | |||
5 | Plateau United | 13 | |
Sunshine Stars | |||
7 | Lobi Stars | 11 | |
Abia Warriors | |||
9 | Kwara United | 10 | |
Enugu Rangers | |||
Jigawa Golden Stars |
Hattricks
[edit]Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kwara United | Adamawa United | 5–0 (H)[24] | 21 March 2021 | |
Nasarawa United | Abia Warriors | 5–3 (H)[25] | 28 March 2021 | |
Wikki Tourists | Ifeanyiubah | 4–3 (H)[26] | 13 June 2021 | |
Kwara United | Wikki Tourists | 3–1 (H) | 22 July 2021 | |
Abia Warriors | Adamawa United | 5–1 (H) | 28 July 2021 | |
Akwa United | MFM | 5–2 (H)[27] | 1 August 2021 |
- Notes
(H) – Home team
Top assists
[edit]Updated to match(es) played on 11 April 2021
Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kano Pillars | 6 | |
2 | Dakkada | 5 | |
Kwara United | |||
4 | Akwa United | 4 | |
Dakkada Enyimba | |||
MFM |
Clean sheets
[edit]Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kwara United | 16 | |
Akwa United | |||
3 | Lobi Stars | 14 | |
4 | Plateau United | 10 | |
Ifeanyiubah | |||
6 | Plateau United | 8 | |
Heartland |
Awards
[edit]Monthly awards
[edit]Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | References | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | Club | Player | Club | ||
January | Sunshine Stars | Sunshine Stars | [28] | ||
February | Enyimba | Akwa United |
Season's award
[edit]- 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
[edit]- ^ "LMC affirms December 27 date for league kickoff". Guardian.ng. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ a b "2019–20 NPFL season cancelled without promotion or relegation". Goal.com. 10 July 2020.
- ^ "NPFL 2020/21 season to start on December 6". aclsports. 9 November 2020.
- ^ "LMC certifies 13 stadiums ahead of 2020–21 NPFL season". vanguardngr. com. 1 November 2020.
- ^ "Akwa United beat MFM to win first ever Nigeria Premier League title". The Punch. 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Impressive Akwa United lift first NPFL title". The Nation. 2 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Silas Nwankwo wins the NPFL Eunisell golden boot". whogoz.ng. 6 August 2021.
- ^ "Jigawa new coach proud of Dakkada's feat". kick442.com. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Katsina United unveils coach Bazuaye". blueprint.ng. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "No crisis in MFM FC - Goodwin Enakhena". bsnsports.com. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "MFM names Olalekan Gabriel new head coach". Guardian.ng. 23 February 2021.
- ^ "Lionel Soccoïa quits Kano Pillars after four months". brila.net. 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Warri Wolves sack Evans Ogenyi". brila.net. 17 March 2021.
- ^ "Warrior Wolves appoints Ortega Deniran as new technical adviser". brila.net. 20 May 2021.
- ^ "New gaffer Azeez Mohammed ready to lead Katsina United out of trouble". brila.net. 4 May 2021.
- ^ "Usman Abd'Allah leaves Wikki Tourists". busybuddiesng.com. 18 May 2021.
- ^ "Sunshine Stars coach Ogunbote resigns over lack of welfare support". daily post.ng. 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Deji Ayeni replaces Gbenga Ogunbote as Sunshine coach". bsnsports.com.ng. 1 June 2021.
- ^ "MFM FC awarded 3 points against FC Ifeanyiubah". vanguardngr.com. 9 May 2021.
- ^ "FC Ifeanyiubah vs MFM match to be replayed at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Ifeanyiubah to pay MFM FC two million naira before rescheduled date". sports247.ng. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "NPFL Matchday 20:MFM FC condemns FC Ifeanyiubah to the bottom in rescheduled fixture". bsnsports.com.ng. 30 July 2021.
- ^ "CASE:Jigawa Golden Stars FC vs Rivers United FC". TheNFF. 5 August 2021.
- ^ "NFF committee's decision takes Rivers United to second position". The Guardian. 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Kwara United's Jude Steven delights in first professional hattrick". brila.net. 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Silas Nwankwo nets hattrick for Nasarawa". TheCable. 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Wikki Tourists whip FC Ifeanyiubah". TheEagleOnline.com.ng. 13 June 2021.
- ^ "Charles Atshimene nets hattrick as Akwa United lifts NPFL trophy in seven goals thriller". platformtimes.com.ng. 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Sadeeq Yusuf claims NPFL player of the month award for January". ojbsport.com. 15 February 2021.
External links
[edit]- Nigeria 2020/21 RSSSF