2021–22 Nigeria Professional Football League

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]

Nigeria Professional Football League
Season2021–22
Promoted
Matches played259
Goals scored489 (1.89 per match)
Top goalscorerIshaq Rafiu (13 goals)
Biggest home winPlateau United 5–0 Dakkada (16 January 2022)
Akwa United 6–1 Nasarawa United (22 April 2022)
Biggest away winHeartland 0–3 Enugu Rangers (21 January 2022)
Akwa United 0–3 Enugu Rangers (13 March 2022)
Highest scoringEnugu Rangers 5–3 Lobi Stars (19 March 2022)
Longest winning runPlateau United (5 matches)
Longest unbeaten runRivers United (12 matches)
Longest winless runHeartland & MFM (7 matches)
Longest losing runHeartland , MFM & Lobi Stars (5 matches)
2022–23 →
All statistics correct as of 1 May 2022.

This season sees Shooting Stars returning to the top-flight after a four years hiatus, likewise Niger Tornadoes who won the National League 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
Locations of the 2021–22 Nigeria Professional Football League teams

Clubs
  • Note: Several clubs played home matches at other stadiums due to their regular stadia not meeting the league requirements or being banished by the LMC.
Team Location Stadium Head Coach
Abia Warriors Umuahia Okigwe Stadium Imama Amapakabo
Akwa United F.C. Uyo Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Deji Ayeni
Dakkada Danlami Kwasau
Enugu Rangers Enugu Ifeanyi Ubah FC Stadium
Awka City Stadium		 Abdul Maikaba
Enyimba Aba Enyimba International Stadium Finidi George
Gombe United Gombe Pantami Stadium Aliyu Zubairu
Heartland F.C. Owerri Dan Anyiam Stadium Erasmus Onuh
Kano Pillars Kano Various Salisu Yusuf
Katsina United Katsina Muhammad Dikko Stadium Azeez Mohammed
Kwara United Ilorin Kwara State Stadium Abdullahi Biffo
Lobi Stars Makurdi Aper Aku Stadium Mohammed Babaganaru
MFM F.C. Lagos Teslim Balogun Stadium Gabriel Olalekan
Nasarawa United Lafia Lafia Township Stadium Bala Nikyu
Niger Tornadoes Minna Various Abubakar Bala
Plateau United Jos New Jos Stadium Fidelis Ilechukwu
Remo Stars Ikenne Dipo Dina Stadium
Remo Stars Stadium		 Gbenga Ogunbote
Rivers United Port Harcourt Yakubu Gowon Stadium Stanley Eguma
Shooting Stars Ibadan Lekan Salami Stadium Edith Agoye
Sunshine Stars Akure Dipo Dina Stadium
Akure Stadium		 Emmanuel Deutsch
Wikki Tourists F.C. Bauchi Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium Kabiru Dogo

Managerial changes

Not including interim management.

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of departure Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Heartland Hassan Abdallah Resignation 2 February Erasmus Onuh 5 February[4]
Akwa United Kennedy Boboye Resignation 13 February[5] Deji Ayeni 23 March
Lobi Stars Eddy Dombraye Sacked 14 March Mohammed Babaganaru 24 March
Sunshine Stars Deji Ayeni Left for Akwa United 23 March Emmanuel Deutsch 2 April

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Rivers United 26 16 7 3 40 13 +27 55 Qualification for the Champions League
2 Plateau United 26 16 3 7 35 14 +21 51
3 Remo Stars 26 12 7 7 29 14 +15 43 Qualification for the Confederation Cup
4 Enugu Rangers 26 11 9 6 31 16 +15 42
5 Kwara United 26 11 7 8 26 27 −1 40
6 Akwa United 26 10 9 7 27 23 +4 39
7 Enyimba 26 11 5 10 26 23 +3 38
8 Sunshine Stars 26 10 7 9 22 18 +4 37
9 Gombe United 26 9 8 9 22 22 0 35
10 Wikki Tourists 26 10 5 11 19 22 −3 35
11 Shooting Stars 26 9 7 10 25 25 0 34
12 Niger Tornadoes 26 9 6 11 19 25 −6 33
13 Nasarawa United 26 8 8 10 29 35 −6 32
14 Katsina United 25 9 3 13 22 27 −5 30
15 Dakkada 26 9 3 14 24 37 −13 30
16 Lobi Stars 26 8 5 13 21 33 −12 29
17 Heartland 26 7 7 12 17 34 −17 28 Relegation to the National League
18 Abia Warriors 25 6 9 10 26 28 −2 27
19 Kano Pillars[lower-alpha 1] 25 8 5 12 15 23 −8 26
20 MFM 25 6 6 13 14 30 −16 24
Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2022. Source: NPFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Notes:
  1. Kano Pillars had 3 points deducted by the LMC.[6]

Results
Home \ Away ABI AKW DAK ENU ENY GOM HEA KAN KAT KWA LOB MFM NAS NIG PLA REM RIV 3SC SUN WIK
Abia Warriors 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 3–0
Akwa United 3–2 0–3 1–0 0–0 3–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 6–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–0
Dakkada 0–0 2–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 0–1
Enugu Rangers 2–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 5–3 2–0 1–0 4–0 0–1 0–0 0–0
Enyimba 2–1 1–0 2–1 3–0 4–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–1 1–0 2–0
Gombe United 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 3–0 3–1 1–0 1–1 1–0 0–0 0–0
Heartland 2–1 1–0 0–3 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 3–3 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–0
Kano Pillars 2–1 0–0 2–0 3–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 1–0
Katsina United 2–1 1–0 4–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 3–1 1–0 1–0
Kwara United 1–1 3–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–0
Lobi Stars 1–2 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 0–2 1–0 1–1 2–1
MFM 2–1 0–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 1–0 0–2 1–3 0–1 1–0 0–2
Nasarawa United 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–1
Niger Tornadoes 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 1–0
Plateau United 1–0 3–0 5–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 3–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 2–0
Remo Stars 1–0 0–1 4–1 3–0 2–0 3–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 1–0
Rivers United 4–1 2–1 2–0 3–1 3–0 3–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 3–0
Shooting Stars 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 4–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 1–0 2–2 0–0
Sunshine Stars 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 2–0 3–1 3–0 1–0 3–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–1
Wikki Tourists 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–2 1–0
Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2022. Source: NPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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 Warriors1587111781214141413151516151516131315131515141418
Akwa United13257469777865646668987756
Dakkada201114148131617161817181819181917191618151614151615
Enugu Rangers57834333346434554333333434
Enyimba425935744545778789107879897
Gombe United12151710161518131515141089109101011911981089
Heartland71610179121719191919191918171815181820202020181917
Kano Pillars1917201520111512101111141614141412141213141316191719
Katsina United1619151813181418181618171717191719161517181919171514
Kwara United254459510885756565454555565
Lobi Stars913613610118131315121313131314171916171717161816
MFM1820161914192020202020202020202020202019191818202020
Nasarawa United8121171171071110991110111111121412101112131213
Niger Tornadoes6991619201316171716161215161618151714161413121312
Plateau United1710138126455332122222222222222
Remo Stars31111112221344333545444343
Rivers United1043222211121211111111111111
Shooting Stars1114181218171915126106101212121311911121211111111
Sunshine Stars1418192015148119121213148989786766678
Wikki Tourists13612610169669811911710787106101091010
Leader
Champions League
Confederation Cup
Relegation to Nigeria National League
Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2022. Source: World Football

Statistics

Top scorers
As of 1 May 2022
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Ishaq Rafiu Rivers United 13
2 Yusuf Abdulazeez Gombe United 11
Victor Mbaoma Enyimba
4 Andy Okpe Remo Stars 10
5 Chijioke Akuneto Rivers United 9
Ossy Martins Enugu Rangers
7 Odoh Valentine Abia Warriors 8
8 Alao Danbani Kwara United 7
Godwin Obaje Abia Warriors
Tochukwu Udeh Nasarawa United
Leonard Ugochukwu Sunshine Stars

Hat-tricks
Player For Against Score Date
Chijioke Akuneto Rivers United Akwa United 4–1 (H) 20 March 2022[7]
Notes


(H) – Home team

References
  1. "NPFL 2021–22 season starts December 17". The Nation. 25 November 2021.
  2. Oludare, Shina (12 September 2021). "3SC, Remo Stars, Niger Tornadoes and Gombe United promoted to NPFL". Goal. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  3. "LMC,Redstrike media seal NPFL.tv deal". Punchng.com. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  4. "Onuh replaces Abdallah as Heartland coach". Dailypost.ng. 6 February 2022.
  5. "NPFL:Kennedy Boboye quits Akwa United". Premiumtimesng.com. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  6. "Kano Pillars hit with hefty fine, points deduction". brila.net. 17 April 2022.
  7. "NPFL Review:Akuneto scores hattrick as Rivers United finish midseason champions". 20 March 2022.
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