After series of postponement, the wait for the start of the 23/24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season is finally over as the season is set to begin on Saturday in Ibadan at the Lekan Salami Stadium, the home ground of one of the traditional teams in the league Shooting Stars Sports Club where the Gbenga Ogunbote’s led Shooting Stars will be hosting Plateau United who have a new manager in Mbwas Mangut in what looks like a repeat of the last season opener where both sides faced off in the opening week and served a 6-goal thriller in a 3 – 3 entertaining draw.
The league body has announced that all 20 participating clubs will receive N10m each as a take-off grant.
Eight matches will be played in the opening week of the campaign as two matches involving Bendel Insurance and Rivers United have been postponed due to their continental engagement this weekend.
With 20 teams set to face off in a straight league format across 38 match days and a whopping N150million fixed for the Champions in what promises to be an intense campaign, at Brace Radio we take a look at the chances of the teams and present to you our Contenders, Pretenders, Dark horses and the teams that are likely to be relegated at the end of the season. It is also important to know that we use preparation of teams(transfer activity & Pre-season form), History, strengths and the weaknesses of the teams to arrive at our prediction.
CONTENDERS
- Rivers United – The pride of Rivers United had and would always remain a contender for the title atleast for now, they’ve recruited so well with the signing of the likes Andy Okpe from Remo Stars, free agent Ossy Martins Nyima Nwagua will lead the team as the new captain following the retirement and subsequent appointment of Festus Austin as the club’s new team coordinator and the free scoring striker is expected to lead the team to glory.
They can also boast of having the longest serving manager in the league Stanley Eguma who is the head of the technical crew, he will be assisted by another veteran coach Evans Ogenyi who last worked at Kano Pillars FC In the 2022/2023 Nigeria National League season, he has replaced Fatai Osho as the chief coach of the team and with someone like Barrister Chris Green also in the background, it is safe to say the 2021 champions can boast of having “everything” that is needed to win the NPFL again
- Remo Stars – The trajectory of the “sky Blues” since they made a return to the NPFL has been impressive, from a top 3 finish 2 years ago that gave them their first CAF Confederation ticket to the 2nd place finish behind Enyimba last season that earned them a CAF Champions League ticket, it will not be a surprise if Remo Stars takes it a step further in their 3rd
They’ve made a couple of new signings as well even though they lost some key players that gave them the 2nd spot last season, the return of the experienced Sikiru Alimi is good for the team. The arrival of Tochukwu Micheal, Jide Fatokun from Kwara United, and Victor Collins are also going to be a big one for Remo Stars. And just like Rivers United, Remo Stars can also boast of “anything” and “everything” needed to win the league. Interestingly, both Rivers United and Remo Stars lost the title on goal difference last season
- Bendel Insurance: The “Ada Bendel” team took the league by storm last season when they went unbeaten throughout the regular season, no doubt they have the best defence in the league and according to the great Sir Alex Ferguson “attack win you games, defence win you titles”, no wonder Bendel Insurance broke their 36 years title drought last season after winning the Federation cup. The signing of Ezekiel Tamara and Kelly Kester from 3SC is key to improving their midfield, the only problem the team might face again is the goal-scoring problem and having lost their top striker Imade Osarekhoue to United FC in the UAE, Insurance might even find it more difficult to score goals again this season.
Paul Obata is one of their signings, the former Gombe United attacker could be the man to score the goals in the absence of the departed Imade Osarenkhoue while Sarki Ismail is also capable of scoring the goals again.
PRETENDERS
- Enyimba – With due respect to the people’s elephant as the most successful team in the league and the defending champions, I don’t see Enyimba defending the title they won last season because of different reasons. No team in the past decade has managed to retain the title, and apart from that, the last 2 title successes of Enyimba came from the abridge league format and the fact that the club is under a new management for the first time in 16 years could mean they will struggle to defend the title.
They lost some key players as well, Emeka Obioma has left for Morroco, his 16 goals helped them to the league title last season. John Noble, sadiq Abubakar, Fatai Abdullahi have all left, these men played big roles in their success last season and it would be difficult to replace them “just like that”. The addition of Joseph Atule and Daniel Daga should be commended and it is enough for me to tip them for a top 5 finish but definitely not for the league title.
- Akwa United: The “Promise Keepers” is still searching for another league title since 2021 and I don’t think this is the season they’ve been waiting for to win again. Fatai Osho has replaced Deji Ayeni as the new gaffer, he has signed more than 23 new players in what looks like a rebuilding process for the team. The likes of Edidiong Stephen joined from Remo Stars, highy experienced Dare Ojo who was part of their title winning squad and a host of others are raring to go for the Promise Keepers in the new season.
I do not expect them to win the league in Osho Fatai’s first season, they’ve not qualified for continental football for the past 2 seasons and returning to the continent should be a major priority.
The club chairman Elder Paul Bassey did not emphatically say they are going to win the league while discussing with journalists at the official unveiling of the club’s jersey few days ago, he only promised a good season and was more particular about returning to the continent.
However, one thing is certain, Fatai Osho will play “good football” with his “sugar ball” at Akwa United and should make the top 5 all things being equal.
- Enugu Rangers FC: The 2016 champions are under a new general manager Amobi Ezeaku who has brought a couple of changes to the administration of the Flying Antelopes since his appointment. The FIFA trained administrator is determined to win the first league title in 7 years, the new coach Fidelis Ilechukwu who has been branded as one of the best young managers in the league is also desperate to impress at his new club, however, playing their home games away from the traditional Nnamdi Azikwe stadium is another major problem for the former champions.
They’ve been playing at the Awka City Stadium since 2022 when renovation works started at “The Cathedral” and the stadium has failed to give them the home advantage vibe, I sincerely don’t see them winning the league in this new campaign, a top 10 finish is all I see.
DARK HORSES
- Shooting Stars FC: Coach Gbenga Ogunbote is set to continue as the coach for the second straight season and has made a couple of decent signings expected to lift the team and hopefully end the club’s 25years of waiting for the league title, however with the recent turn of events at the club, it is almost unpredictable to say the kind of performance they will put up this new season.
They were one of the favorites last season after they dispatched Enyimba, Insurance to win the Dozy Mmuoboise pre-season tournament, they started last season with an entertaining 3-3 draw against Plateau United in Jos before team collapsed.
Ahead of this new campaign, Gbenga Ogunbote said vital lessons have been learnt from the mistakes of last season, they’ve had a decent pre-season as usual by winning the ValueJet Pre-season by defeating Remo Stars 3 – 0 in the final, they played 22 pre-season matches, won 16, 6 draws and did not lose any game in the regulation time. one can only hope they will bring this performance into the new season and it is because of that I am tipping them to be a dark horse, they may impress or disappoint their teeming fans across the world.
Overall, if major stakeholders in the state cooperate with 3SC and avoid any distraction, I am hopeful of a top 5 finish for the Oluyole Warriors. The new signings like Darlinton Ovuda, Daddy Abdurahman, Christain Pygbara, Emeka Obiora, Anayo Ogbonna and Taye Muritala should be able to join forces with Taofeek Malomo, Raheem Quadry etc to deliver a continental ticket.
- Sporting Lagos: The NPFL new boys have enjoyed a massive rise in trajectory since the club was formed less than two years ago. From the NNL to earning the NPFL promotion at the 2nd time of asking to winning the maiden edition of the Naija Super 8 in the last 6 months, Sporting Lagos is definitely a team to watch out for in the new season.
The honeymoon is over for the “Tech Boys” now, it is time to “chill with the big boys” in the top flight and it seems they are ready for the rumble in the jungle. Former goal-king Junior Lokosa surprisingly ditched Remo Stars for the Sporting Lagos in what seems to be one of the biggest transfers in the summer, Last season’s Fans’ Player of the Year, Chisom Orji, has rejoined them on a season-long loan and he’s expected to make the team competitive.
While it is almost impossible for a newly promoted team to win the league title, this team will definitely be a problem for the big boys but with the inexperience of their young coach Paul Offor in the top flight, it remains to be seen if they are going to impress or disappoint football fans. One thing is certain, Sporting Lagos will bring “life” and light up the league with the razzmatazz of their loud fans and match day experience at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
They have also brought innovations to the league, including being the first team in the league’s history to sell out the season’s tickets for their home games.
RELEGATION SUSPECTS
- Sunshine Stars
- Niger Tornadoes
- Doma United
- Lobi Stars
- Bayelsa United
Let the games begin!!
SOURCE: BRACERADIO