Enugu Rangers on Sunday secured their ninth Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title, with former champions, Remo Stars joining other relegated teams.
Rangers secured the win, which equalled Enyimba’s record, after defeating Ikorodu City 2-1 in their final matchday game.
The outcome of the game at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, denied Ikorodu City the final continental ticket reserved for the third position in the league, which went to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan.
The battle for the top position was between Rangers and Rivers United, who had one point less in second place before the game.
But Captain Chidiebere Nwobodo’s two goals, one in each half, condemned the home team to their first loss at home this season and denied them a place on the continent for the second time as they finished in the fourth position.
Rivers United’s 3-0 victory at home against Katsina United was not good enough to get the needed points to win the league, finishing second on the table.
Rangers won the title with 68 points while the game between Rivers United and Katsina United ended 3-0 in favour of the home team, ending the season with 67 points to finish in second position.
The title was already looking like Rivers United to lose after scoring a first minute goal and the game in Lagos goalless, but everything changed when Nwobodo scored the first goal in the 30th minute and later secured the win with another goal in the 52nd minute to lead the Fidelis Ilechukwu side to their second title in three years and ninth overall, after winning their eighth title during the 2023/2024 league season.
The biggest winner of the Rangers title win in Lagos was 3SC who returned to the continent despite losing 1-0 against Niger Tornadoes in Minna as they secured the CAF Confederation slot reserved for the third placed team in the league.
Enyimba maintained their elite division status with a 3-0 defeat of El-Kanemi Warriors, condemning their opponent to the lower division, joining Bayelsa United and Wiki Tourists in Nigeria National League ahead of next season.
Despite their relegation to the lower division before the final day of the season, Bayelsa United walloped Kwara United 4-0 to end the season on a good note in front of their fans, while Warri Wolves and Plateau United did enough to get wins against Abia Warriors and Kano Pillars to remain in the NPFL for another season.
Remo Stars became the third defending champion to be relegated after recording a 1-1 draw against Insurance in Benin.
The same happened to Shooting Stars in 1999 and Bayelsa United in 2010.
Remo scored first but a late equaliser truncated the hope of the Kunle Soname Boys as they will now play in the Nigerian National League next season.
Rangers’ Godwin Obaje and Remo Stars’ Victor Mbaoma finished the season as joint top scorers with 14 goals, scoring one penalty kick each.
Champions Rangers and Rivers United will represent the country in the CAF Champions League next season, while Shooting Stars will fly Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Confederation Cup with the winner of the Federation Cup joining them.
