2021–22 Nigeria Professional Football League
Season | 2021–22 |
---|---|
Promoted |
|
Matches played | 190 |
Goals scored | 361 (1.9 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Ishaq Rafiu (11 goals) |
Biggest home win | Plateau United 5–0 Dakkada (16 January 2022) |
Biggest away win | Heartland 0–3 Enugu Rangers (21 January 2022) Akwa United 0–3 Enugu Rangers (13 March 2022) |
Highest scoring | Enugu Rangers 5–3 Lobi Stars (19 March 2022) |
Longest winning run | Plateau United (5 matches) |
Longest unbeaten run | Plateau United & Remo Stars (11 matches) |
Longest winless run | Heartland & MFM (7 matches) |
Longest losing run | Heartland , MFM & Lobi Stars (5 matches) |
← 2020–21 →
All statistics correct as of 20 March 2022. |
The 2021–22 Nigeria Professional Football League is the 51st season of Nigeria's top-flight association football league and the 32nd since attaining professionalism. The season started on 17 December 2021 and is expected to conclude on 22 July 2022.[1]
This season sees Shooting Stars returning to the top-flight after a four years hiatus, likewise Niger Tornadoes who won the play-offs. They are also joined by Remo Stars and Gombe United after securing promotion from the second division.[2] Akwa United are the defending champions.
Following a deal with RedStrike, selected matches can be viewed live on NPFL TV and on NTA Sports for a consecutive season.[3]
Teams information[]
Clubs[]
- ^ Abia Warriors play their home matches at , Okigwe due to the poor state of their original stadium, .
- ^ Dakkada played three home matches at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.[4]
- ^ Enugu Rangers currently play their home matches at in Nnewi as renovation works are being carried out at their regular stadium, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
- ^ Kano Pillars play their home matches at Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna instead of their stadium Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano as it does not meet LMC requirements. Kano Pillars will also temporarily play at Mohammed Dikko Stadium, Katsina.
- ^ MFM play their home matches at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos as their stadium, Agege Stadium is undergoing renovation works. However, they played their first match at the Onikan Stadium.
- ^ Niger Tornadoes are to temporarily play their home matches at Abuja as their original stadium, Minna Township Stadium is being renovated. Tornadoes also played their first three home games at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin.
- ^ Sunshine Stars temporarily play their home matches at Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode as their regular stadium, Akure Township Stadium, Akure does not meet the LMC requirements.
Managerial changes[]
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of departure | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heartland | Hassan Abdallah | Resignation | 2 February | Erasmus Onuh | 5 February[5] |
Akwa United | Kennedy Boboye | Resignation | 13 February[6] | Ali Jolomi (interim) | 14 February |
League table[]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rivers United | 19 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 31 | 9 | +22 | 42 | Qualification for the |
2 | Plateau United | 19 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 30 | 10 | +20 | 41 | |
3 | Enugu Rangers | 19 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 25 | 10 | +15 | 34 | Qualification for the |
4 | Remo Stars | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 9 | +12 | 32 | |
5 | Kwara United | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 17 | +2 | 31 | |
6 | Akwa United | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 27 | |
7 | Wikki Tourists | 19 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 27 | |
8 | Sunshine Stars | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 16 | +3 | 26 | |
9 | Shooting Stars | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 26 | |
10 | Enyimba | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 16 | −2 | 26 | |
11 | Gombe United | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 24 | |
12 | Kano Pillars | 19 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 24 | |
13 | Abia Warriors | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 22 | |
14 | Nasarawa United | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 23 | −3 | 22 | |
15 | Katsina United | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 22 | −6 | 21 | |
16 | Dakkada | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 28 | −10 | 21 | |
17 | Niger Tornadoes | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 18 | −6 | 20 | Relegation to the National League |
18 | Heartland | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 28 | −15 | 20 | |
19 | Lobi Stars | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 26 | −11 | 19 | |
20 | MFM | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 25 | −14 | 17 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Results[]
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.
Relegation to Nigeria National League |
Statistics[]
Scoring[]
Top scorers[]
- As of 20 March 2022
Hat-tricks[]
Player | For | Against | Score | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rivers United | Akwa United | 4–1 (H) | 20 March 2022[7] |
- Notes
(H) – Home team
References[]
- ^ "NPFL 2021–22 season starts December 17". The Nation. 25 November 2021.
- ^ Oludare, Shina (12 September 2021). "3SC, Remo Stars, Niger Tornadoes and Gombe United promoted to NPFL". Goal. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ "LMC,Redstrike media seal NPFL.tv deal". Punchng.com. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ "NPFL:LMC slams 3.5 million naira fine, banish Dakkada FC to Benin". Daily Trust. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Onuh replaces Abdallah as Heartland coach". Dailypost.ng. 6 February 2022.
- ^ "NPFL:Kennedy Boboye quits Akwa United". Premiumtimesng.com. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "NPFL Review:Akuneto scores hattrick as Rivers United finish midseason champions". 20 March 2022.
- Nigerian Professional Football League seasons
- 2021–22 in Nigerian football
- 2021–22 in African association football leagues
- 2021 in African football
- 2022 in African football