THE NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NPFL) 2022-23 TEAMS PREVIEW.

The new NPFL season is upon us and here is a lowdown of teams participating in the campaign. The new season which will be an abridged format.

By: Ajibaye Gazali Babatunde
6th January, 2022

It been five months since Rivers United emerge champions of the NPFL. The new season will birth the return of Bendel Insurance to the top flight and mark the debut of Doma United. The new season ought to have commenced all while but due to administrative issues from the sports body of the country.

ABIA WARRIORS FC: The Umuahia based team will fancy their chance of staying afloat at the top flight football this season after surviving relegation on the final day of the season with a 3nil victory over Lobi Stars. With the coming of Erasmus Onu as the new Head Coach of the side and the inclusion of few additional players to strengthen the squad to put up a good outing this season, even with the departure of Samson Paul to Kwara United who was highly instrumental to their quest last season.

AKWA UNITED: The ‘Promise Keepers’ will try to put the woes of last season performance behind to revitalize their 2020/2021 form in which they emerge the champion. With the former skipper of the side, Akaranbut Ubot becoming the assistant manager of the side to assist Coach Ayeni, will put his experience to bear as well to bring out the best from the lads.

BAYELSA UNITED: After 7 years absence in the apex league, Bayelsa will do all possible to maintain their stay in the league. The 2021 Aiteo Cup winner will have the backing of the state government to put up a good show for the season, this could be seen when the team triumph in the F.A cup to qualify for continental football only to lost out to one of the tournaments favorites at the preliminary round. The technical management will ensure to filled the right players who can put up contest that suits the NPFL.

BENDEL INSURANCE: After emerging champions of the NNL and sealing their promotion to the topflight with two games to spear. The Vipers of Benin as they are rightly called will want to stake a claim in the league and it will be to the delight of veteran lovers of the league seeing Insurance back in the premier league. Insurance FC who dominated the league in the 70/80s would want to prove their mettle to be known again as a force to reckon with. Having had a feel of what to expect in the league where they participated in the NPFL-Dozy Mmobuosi Pre-season Super Cup, this will aid the technical management finishing touch prior the commencement of the season.

DAKKADA FC: Another Uyo based team who will ply their trade in this season NPFL. Since gaining promotion to the top flight in 2019, the formerly known Akwa Starlets FC have been able to stay put at the top and they will be hoping to do so this season as well.

DOMA UNITED FC: The NPFL debutants will be having a feel of topflight football come January 8 when the league commence against Sunshine Stars FC having been drawn in group B with the likes of Rivers United, Rangers Int’l, Lobi Stars etc.

EL-KANEMI WARRIORS FC: The Maiduguri outfit are back in the NPFL after a few years in the Nigeria National League (NNL). The Warriors will hope to put a good shift with the inclusion proven players like Gabriel Wassa from Plateau United to reinforce the squad.

ENYIMBA INT’L FC: After last season disappointment where the ‘Peoples Elephant’ failed to secure a continental ticket. The Finidi George led team will be full of determination to succeed. Having raided relegated Heartland FC of quartet players and signing of sensational winger Akanni Elijah and as well the inclusion of former Gateway United skipper James Oransanya to fortify the team.

GOMBE UNITED: The ‘Savannah Scorpions’ will hope to replicate last season outing where they ended in top half of the log. Having found themselves in the group A that consist majorly the top guns.

KWARA UNITED: Since 2019, the ‘Harmony Boys’ have been a force to reckoned with in the league. For the past two seasons they’ve finished in the top 4 of the league table, having finished 4th last season they got the boardroom decision to represent the country in the CAF Confederations Cup, the slot which is meant for the winner of the Aiteo Cup, which did not take place. At the continental level, they failed to reach the group stage of the competition having lost to RS Berkane on away goal rule after a 4-1 victory in the first leg of the 2nd preliminary game.

LOBI STARS: The Makurdi based team will be hoping to up their ante this time around having finished two places above the drop zone last season. The technical division of the team will be lead by the experienced gaffer, Baba Ganaru who have tinkered in other NPFL clubs.

NASSARAWA UNITED: The 2021 Aiteo Cup runners-up will be geared towards a similar and more better outing this season compared to the previous season, having finished three places below the top 3 last season.

NIGER TORNADOES: The Minna based team will be away from home this season after IMC failed to approve their Bako Kontagora home ground for NPFL games. The Abubakar Bala tutored lads will hope it doesn’t dampened their morale of achieving a better outing.

PLATEAU UNITED: The last season runnesr-up will hope to put the shambolic display on the continent aside to go all out for the title this season. Fidelis Ilechukwu as the manager of the side, will assured good play of football as we’ve known him for during his days at MFM FC.

RANGERS INT’L: The ‘Flying Antelopes’ who played without their fans all through last season and where able to finish in a fair position even if their fans would have hoped they would go all out for the title. The Awka City Stadium will be their home venue for this season as well. The Abdu Maikaba side should be one of the title contenders for the season if everything goes as planned.

REMO STARS: The ‘Sky Blue Stars’ will hope to relish on last season performance after they went 11- game unbeaten. The team ended in a laudable position to fetch a place on the continent. With the return of Coach Daniel Ogunmodede to the side after his stint with CD Feirense of Portugal, we hope the experience will put to bear when his team take to the stage.

RIVERS UNITED: The champions, after winning their first ever title in style with three games to spear. The journey to the defense of their title will begin with a visit from Lobi Stars FC and they will be the only Nigerian team with engagements on the continent after booking their place in the group stage of the 2nd tier CAF clubs competition.

SHOOTING STARS: With Coach Ogunbote back to the side to pilot the affairs of the team after narrowly missing out on relegation last season. The ‘Oluyole Warriors’ seems to be cooking something right this time around with the recruitment of well- established players like Sikiru Alimi, Anthony Okachi etc for the new season. The team triumph in the NPFL- Dozy Mmobuosi Pre- Season tournament in Lagos, with this we can allude to the fact that they are up for a challenge this time around.

SUNSHINE STARS: The ‘Akure Gunners’ have been a regular in the top flight division, even if they haven’t won the title, but their exploits on the continent more than a decade ago will stand for them. Though they might not be a challenger but they can stand their ground against the top sides. I hope they will come as an underdog to put up a fight for the tittle.

WIKKI TOURISTS : Since 2014, the ‘Giant Elephants’ have been able to stand their feet in the top division. With Usman Abd’Allah as the manager of the side, things can go as planned to keep their stay in the league.