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Enugu Rangers, who have been crowned champions of the 2023/24 Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) season, will be officially ordained today when they meet already relegated Gombe United in their final game of the season. The coronation, although not confirmed by the NPFL board, will hold at the Jos Township Stadium, a neutral ground for both clubs. But that is not the major story of the final day of the season, as there are fierce battles for CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup tickets, as well as survival duels across the venues today.
Enugu Rangers have had an outstanding season, clinching the league title on matchday 37 with a five-point lead. Their offensive strength has been a highlight, scoring the most goals in the NPFL this season.
Gombe United have faced a challenging season, ending at the bottom of the league standings. Their struggle has been evident, with the team accumulating only 25 points from 37 games and conceding the most goals in the NPFL this season.
The battles of the day will hold in Aba, Ikenne, Ibadan and Uyo, where Enyimba, Remo Stars and 3SC are fighting to join Enugu Rangers in CAF inter-club competitions next season.
Enyimba need to beat Plateau United and pray for a Katsina United miracle in Ikenne against Remo Stars to qualify for the CAF Champions League. They will settle for the Confederation Cup with a win if, as expected Remo Stars, defeat Katsina United in Ikenne. In that case, Remo Stars, who are currently second on the table, will maintain that position and pick the CAF Champions League slot.
Remo Stars have 62 points, while Enyimba are on 60 points.
3SC, who are fourth on the table, need to defeat Sporting Lagos in Ibadan and pray that Enyimba draws or loses to Plateau United to overtake the Peoples Elephant and pick the CAF Confederation Cup. The Ibadan warlords are on 59 points.
Sporting Lagos, the league’s newcomers, are in the relegation zone and desperately need an away win to secure their place in the NPFL.
In a bid to turn up the volume on their fight against relegation, Sporting Lagos are firing up the fan bus. To add a sea of blue and yellow to the stands at Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, the club’s organised transport will ferry supporters to the crucial match against Shooting Stars. The hype starts early, with the bus pulling out of the Onikan Police Station Parking Lot in Lagos at noon.
Despite staring down the relegation barrel, Sporting Lagos are refusing to go down without a fight. They’ve shown flickers of hope in recent games, finding the net in their last three outings resulting in a win, a draw, and a loss
Sporting Lagos will survive the drop if they lose by a slim margin as they have a superior goals difference to Doma United, who are currently occupying the last relegation slot.
With a -16 goals difference to Sporting Lagos’ -4, Doma United need a 13-0 win against Abia Warriors to survive. Although it looks impossible, stranger things have happened in Nigerian league football.
The other games of consequence on the closing day will hold in Uyo, where home boys, Akwa United need just a draw to cement their survival from relegation. A low goal defeat will also be enough to give them another chance among the big boys.
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