2023–24 Nigeria Premier Football League
The 2023–24 Nigeria Premier Football League is the 53rd season of Nigeria's top-flight association football, the 34th since attaining professionalism and the first under the current name.[1] The season commenced on 30 September 2023 after initial delays.[2][3] Enyimba are the defending champions, after finishing top of the Championship round at the previous season;[4] having won their 9th title the previous season, they can become the first Nigerian football club to win ten titles.
| Season | 2023–24 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 30 September 2023 - 9 June 2024 |
| Promoted | Heartland Kano Pillars Sporting Lagos Katsina United |
| Matches played | 38 |
| Goals scored | 74 (1.95 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Robert Mizo (3 goals) |
| Highest scoring | Bayelsa United 5-3 Akwa United (30 September 2023) |
← 2022–23 2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 22 October 2023. | |
This season sees the Interim Management Committee (IMC) entering into a partnership with technology firm GTI Investment, Propel Sports Africa and MTN to sponsor the league, with an exclusive broadcast right that shall cover eight live games every weekend and 300 throughout the season.[5] Thus, this makes the NPFL the first African football league to deploy artificial intelligence at games.[6]
This season also sees an increase of N50 million in prize money for the champions.[3]
Teams
Twenty teams are competing in the league – the top sixteen teams from the previous season and the four teams promoted from the Nigeria National League. The promoted teams are Heartland, Sporting Lagos, Kano Pillars and Katsina United. This is Sporting Lagos's first season in the Nigeria Professional Football League. With their promotion, Sporting Lagos will become the first team to have been promoted after the first season of their creation. Heartland, Katsina United and Kano Pillars also returned to the top-flight after getting relegated two seasons ago. They will replace Wikki Tourists, Nasarawa United, El-Kanemi Warriors and Dakkada, who were relegated to the Nigeria National League.
Teams information
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abia Warriors | Umuahia | Umuahia Township Stadium | 5,000 |
| Akwa United | Uyo | Godswill Akpabio Stadium | 30,000 |
| Bayelsa United | Yenagoa | Samson Siasia Stadium | 5,000 |
| Bendel Insurance | Benin City | Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium | 12,000 |
| Doma United | Gombe | Pantami Stadium | 12,000 |
| Enugu Rangers | Enugu | Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium | 22,000 |
| Enyimba | Aba | Enyimba International Stadium | 16,000 |
| Gombe United | Gombe | Pantami Stadium | 12,000 |
| Heartland | Owerri | Dan Anyiam Stadium | 10,000 |
| Kwara United | Ilorin | Kwara State Stadium | 18,000 |
| Kano Pillars | Kano | Sani Abacha Stadium | 16,000 |
| Katsina United | Katsina | Muhammadu Dikko Stadium | 35,000 |
| Lobi Stars | Makurdi | Aper Aku Stadium | 8,000 |
| Niger Tornadoes | Minna | TBA[7] | TBA |
| Plateau United | Jos | New Jos Stadium | 60,000 |
| Remo Stars | Ikenne | Remo Stars Stadium | 5,000 |
| Rivers United | Port Harcourt | Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium | 40,000 |
| Shooting Stars | Ibadan | Adamasingba Stadium | 10,000 |
| Sporting Lagos | Lagos | Onikan Stadium | 10,000 |
| Sunshine Stars | Akure | Akure Township Stadium | 5,000 |
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remo Stars | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 9 | Qualification for the Champions League |
| 2 | Lobi Stars | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 8 | |
| 3 | Enugu Rangers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 7 | Qualification for the Confederation Cup |
| 4 | Shooting Stars | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | |
| 5 | Bendel Insurance | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 6 | |
| 6 | Gombe United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | |
| 7 | Niger Tornadoes | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | |
| 8 | Plateau United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | |
| 9 | Kano Pillars | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
| 10 | Abia Warriors | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 6 | |
| 11 | Sporting Lagos | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 | |
| 12 | Kwara United | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
| 13 | Katsina United | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
| 14 | Doma United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 | |
| 15 | Rivers United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| 16 | Sunshine Stars | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 4 | |
| 17 | Heartland | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 | Relegation to the National League |
| 18 | Enyimba | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | |
| 19 | Bayelsa United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 3 | |
| 20 | Akwa United | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 2 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Results
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.
| Leader | |
| Champions League | |
| Confederation Cup | |
| Relegation to Nigeria National League |
Statistics
Hat-tricks
| Player | For | Against | Score | Date | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Robert Mizo |
Bayelsa United | Akwa United | 5–3 (H) | 30 September 2023 | [8] |
- Notes
(H) – Home team
References
- "NFF approves NPFL name change". Dailypost.ng. 10 September 2023.
- "2023–24 NPFL season finally set to begin on September 30 after delays". National Trial Online. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- "NPFL announces September 30 kick off date, N150 million prize money for champions". Prime Business Africa. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- "NPFL: Enyimba Draw With Rivers Utd To Win Record Ninth Title – Channels Television".
- "MTN to co-sponsor Nigerian football league with GTI, Propel Sports Africa". Premium Times Nigeria. 20 September 2023.
- "GTI unveils AI cameras for NPFL coverage". The Punch. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- Niger Tornadoes does not have an approved stadium
- "Mizo hat-trick as goals rain flood Yenagoa". Punchng.com. 1 October 2023.