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2025–26 Nigeria Premier Football League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nigeria Premier Football League
Season2025–26
Dates22 August 2025 – 24 May 2026
Matches350
Goals690 (1.97 per match)
Top goalscorerJoseph Arumala (12 goals)
Biggest home winNiger Tornadoes 4–0 Plateau United (19 October 2025)
Highest scoringWikki Tourists 4–4 Katsina United (8 February 2026)
Longest winning runNasarawa United (5 matches)
Longest unbeaten runRivers United (9 matches)
Longest winless runBendel Insurance (8 matches)
Longest losing runKwara United (4 matches)
All statistics correct as of 19 April 2026.

The 2025–26 Nigeria Premier Football League is the 54th season of Nigeria's top-flight association football league, the 36th since attaining professionalism and the third under the current name. The season commenced on 22 August 2025 and will end on 24 May 2026[1] with a one-week mid-season break from 30 December to 6 January and another two weeks break from 20 April to 2 May.[2][3]

Remo Stars are the defending champions.[4]

Teams

[edit]

Changes from previous season

[edit]

Twenty 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 NNL champions Warri Wolves, Wikki Tourists who have played previously in the top flight, and newcomers Barau and Kun Khalifat.[5][6]

Increase Promoted from
2024–25 National League 		Decrease Relegated to
2025–26 National League
Warri Wolves
Wikki Tourists
Barau
Kun Khalifat 		Lobi Stars
Sunshine Stars
Akwa United
Heartland

Teams information

[edit]
Locations of the 2025–26 Nigeria Premier Football League teams

The below stadiums are those utilized by the clubs for most of the season, it does not note those that were used by the clubs temporarily.

Team Kit supplier Shirt Sponsor Sleeve Sponsor Location Stadium Capacity
Abia Warriors Owu Eunisell Umuahia Umuahia Township Stadium 5,000
Barau Cone sport Dambatta Sani Abacha Stadium[a] 16,000
Bayelsa United Yenagoa Samson Siasia Stadium
Ozoro Stadium 		5,000
10,000
Bendel Insurance Fourteen Sterling Bank Benin City Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium 12,000
El-Kanemi Warriors Maiduguri El-Kanemi Stadium 10,000
Enugu Rangers Cone sport Afrinvest Senior Barman Nortra Enugu Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium 22,000
Enyimba joma Stake.com United Nigeria Airlines Aba Enyimba International Stadium 16,000
Ikorodu City CF moto Betking Indomie Ikorodu, Lagos Onikan Stadium 10,000
Kano Pillars AO RFI hausa Kano Sani Abacha Stadium 16,000
Katsina United S sport Katsina Muhammadu Dikko Stadium 35,000
Kun Khalifat Adidas Old English Bar & Grills Owerri Dan Anyiam Stadium 10,000
Kwara United Owu BC Games Ilorin Kwara State Stadium 18,000
Nasarawa United Elite king sport Lafia Lafia Township Stadium 10,000
Niger Tornadoes Ammaz Niger foods Minna Bako Kontagora Stadium 5,000
Plateau United Cone sport Jos New Jos Stadium 44,000
Remo Stars Dexie Bet9ja ValueJet Ikenne Remi Stars Stadium[b] 10,000
Rivers United Owu Port Harcourt Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium 40,000
Shooting Stars Pavelet Ibadan Lekan Salami Stadium 15,000
Warri Wolves Tico Warri Ozoro Stadium 10,000
Wikki Tourists M sports Bauchi Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium 11,000
  1. ^ Barau play all their home games at Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano as their home stadium Dambatta Stadium, Dambatta is not suitable to host games.[7]
  2. ^ Remo Stars played some of their home games at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta as their home stadium was undergoing renovation works.[8]

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Enugu Rangers 35 16 11 8 41 25 +16 59 Qualification for the Champions League
2 Rivers United 35 16 10 9 35 29 +6 58
3 Ikorodu City 35 15 10 10 38 32 +6 55 Qualification for the Confederation Cup
4 Abia Warriors 35 16 7 12 30 27 +3 55
5 Shooting Stars 35 16 6 13 37 37 0 54
6 Nasarawa United 35 15 8 12 34 28 +6 53
7 Bendel Insurance 35 13 13 9 41 35 +6 52
8 Katsina United 35 13 10 12 32 34 −2 49
9 Plateau United 35 14 5 16 38 38 0 47
10 Barau 35 11 13 11 28 29 −1 46
11 El-Kanemi Warriors 35 13 7 15 27 40 −13 46
12 Kano Pillars[a] 35 14 6 15 32 36 −4 45
13 Enyimba 35 11 10 14 39 39 0 43
14 Niger Tornadoes 35 12 7 16 34 34 0 43
15 Kwara United[b] 35 12 10 13 28 30 −2 43
16 Remo Stars 35 13 4 18 38 43 −5 43
17 Warri Wolves 35 11 10 14 33 39 −6 43 Relegation to the National League
18 Kun Khalifat 35 10 10 15 35 38 −3 40
19 Bayelsa United 35 10 10 15 32 38 −6 40
20 Wikki Tourists 35 9 13 13 32 39 −7 40
Updated to match(es) played on 19 April 2026. Source: NPFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Notes:
  1. ^ Kano Pillars were deducted 3 points and 3 goals due to match violence.[9]
  2. ^ Kwara United were deducted 3 points and 3 goals due to match violence.[10]

Results

[edit]
Home \ Away ABW BAR BAY BEN ELK ENU ENY IKR KAN KAT KUN KWA NAS NIG PLA REM RIV 3SC WWV WIK
Abia Warriors 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–1
Barau 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 3–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 4–1 0–1 0–1 0–0
Bayelsa United 2–1 2–0 0–0 0–1 0–2 1–1 4–1 1–1 1–2 1–2 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–1
Bendel Insurance 1–0 0–0 1–1 3–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–2 2–1 2–0 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 3–0
El-Kanemi Warriors 2–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 3–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 w/o[a] 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–1
Enugu Rangers 2–0 0–0 4–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 4–1 0–0 1–0 4–2 2–0
Enyimba 2–1 0–0 1–0 3–2 2–1 0–1 2–0 3–0 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 3–0 1–2 0–1
Ikorodu City 1–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 3–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 4–3
Kano Pillars 0–1 1–0 0–0 4–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 0–2 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–1
Katsina United 2–0 1–1 3–2 0–1 1–0 0–0 3–2 1–0 2–0 1–2 1–0 1–0 0–0 3–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–0
Kun Khalifat 0–1 1–3 1–0 1–1 3–1 1–2 1–0 2–2 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–2 0–1 2–0 3–0
Kwara United 0–1 2–1 2–0 0–1 3–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 3–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–0
Nasarawa United 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 4–1 1–0 3–0 1–0
Niger Tornadoes 1–2 2–0 1–0 2–2 3–0 0–0 2–0 4–2 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 4–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–0
Plateau United 0–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 4–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 2–0 1–2 4–1 1–0 1–0
Remo Stars 1–1 2–0 2–3 2–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–1 3–0 1–2 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–0
Rivers United 1–0 1–2 3–1 3–0 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 4–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–0
Shooting Stars 2–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 3–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 4–2 3–2
Warri Wolves 0–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 2–1 0–2 0–0 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 1–2 2–2
Wikki Tourists 1–0 0–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–1
Updated to match(es) played on 19 April 2026. Source: NPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
  1. ^ The match between El-Kanemi Warriors and Kun Khalifat was awarded as a 3–0 win for El-Kanemi Warriors by the league body after Kun Khalifat failed to show up for the game.[11]

Positions by round

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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 Warriors211141111442322244654322234555554656444
Barau9191720201819201818191817191819191717151415151314121310129111211910
Bayelsa United313812131411131612131010111410131517131313161515171416131514161719
Bendel Insurance20171614151517191919181919181715151098688866667777777
El-Kanemi Warriors137136107127811149131516171611101191098898881010121111
Enugu Rangers14181117171757121213575846566545342222212121
Enyimba107911223810781114101389812121212121314141517151615151313
Ikorodu City11121371011129553312123433353411135343333
Kano Pillars1513181616191617202020202020202020201818191918191717161715161416141512
Katsina United16859461161171010138911111310910111111119791111889108
Kun Khalifat1215191518202018141415171817161818192020202020202020181918201920202018
Kwara United131610121371314101189121214101381214161719171819202019182018181615
Nasarawa United17101252111111121212245422234343434566
Niger Tornadoes4961035884357564657579777910121313141311131214
Plateau United18202018191618151715161516161917161819191818161412131012101299889
Remo Stars7416814101315171716151113912151613151617181918191820191817171916
Rivers United86825334996433331111111123411121212
Shooting Stars1914151914865269111415577674766677876565655
Warri Wolves5243712910644689789121311810910101111119101213101417
Wikki Tourists65249915161613141267121214141416171414151616151614171719191820
Leader
Qualification for the Champions League
Qualification for the Confederation Cup
Relegation to Nigeria National League
Updated to match(es) played on 19 April 2026. Source: World Football

Season statistics

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Scoring

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Top scorers

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As of 19 April 2026
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Nigeria Joseph Arumala Ikorodu City 12
Nigeria Uche Collins Katsina United
3 Nigeria Godwin Obaje Enugu Rangers 11
Nigeria Victor Mbaoma Remo Stars
Nigeria Emeka Obioma Abia Warriors
6 Nigeria Daddy Abdulrahman El-Kanemi Warriors 10
Nigeria Evwierhurhoma Igbunu Warri Wolves
Nigeria Michael Chidera Enyimba
Nigeria Jonathan Mairiga Wikki Tourists
9 Nigeria Ibrahim Sodiq Shooting Stars 9
Nigeria Vincent Temitope Plateau United
Nigeria Chidozie Iwundu Enugu Rangers

Hat-tricks

[edit]
As of 29 March 2026
Player For Against Result Date
Abdulaziz Dalhatu Niger Tornadoes Plateau United 4–0 (H)[12] 19 October 2025
Uche Collins Katsina United Wikki Tourists 4–4 (A)[13] 8 February 2026
Alex Oweilayefa Bendel Insurance Ikorodu City 4–0 (H)[14] 1 March 2026
Evwierhurhoma Igbunu Warri Wolves Ikorodu City 3–4 (A)[15] 29 March 2026

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Next NPFL season to kick off August 22". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. 14 June 2025.
  2. ^ "NPFL confirms 2025–26 season will continue amid AFCON 2025 in Morocco". Africa Top Sports. 12 December 2025.
  3. ^ "NPFL title race, survival battle take shape as season enters final stretch". Sports Village Square. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  4. ^ Adewale, Abiodun. "Remo Stars clinch first NPFL title". The Punch. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Warri Wolves overpower Wikki to emerge NNL Super 8 champions". This Day. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Wikki Tourist, Barau FC, Warri Wolves, Kun Khalifat secure promotion to NPFL". Premium Times. 10 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Barau FC gets approval to use Sani Abacha Stadium as temporary ground". The Nigerian Voice. 19 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Remo Stars adopt Abeokuta Stadium ahead of new season". The Punch. 19 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Match violence: NPFL slaps Kano Pillars with fines, points deduction". The Punch. 15 October 2025.
  10. ^ "NPFL slams Kwara United with stadium ban, N9m fine". The Punch. 19 February 2026.
  11. ^ "NPFL investigates Kun Khalifat over abandoned El-Kanemi match". bsnsports. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  12. ^ "NPFL: Tornadoes' Dalhatu bags hat-trick". The Punch. 19 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Walk of shame: Nigeria forward emulates Szoboszlai's hero to zero moment in eight-goal thriller". Pulsesports Nigeria. 9 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Oweilayefa's hat-trick sinks Ikorodu City". npfl.com. 2 March 2026.
  15. ^ "NPFL: Ikorodu City edge Warri Wolves in 4–3 thriller". Peoples Gazette. Abuja, Nigeria. 30 March 2026.
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