NPFL22: All-round improvement saw the odds defied, giants fall, history made and a maiden Champion crowned in a breakthrough campaign for club football in Nigeria

The NPFL 2021/22 season has come to a close and unlike any other campaign in previous years, it was more fun, competitive, engaged by fans and from here, on can boastfully say, it will only get better.

The level of enthusiasm shown by fans was evidence in the number of turn ups in different stadia across the country over the course of the season, while it can also be seen amongst the trending topics on social media platforms, weeks in and out.

It is impressive to see such attention given to our domestic league, which has not been so in times past, and with the news it will be broadcasted on television next season, one can tell that the future is truly here for the NPFL.

The season kicked off in Lagos, at the ground of MFM FC in Agege and from there, it was known it is going to be a one of a kind season as it was the away side, newly promoted Remo Stars ending the night with a 2-0 win.

An away win in the NPFL is something very rare to come by in past seasons but in the just concluded campaign, only three teams avoided home loss and these are the teams occupying three of the four top positions on the log.

But of course this is only the beginning of better things to come and at this rate, one doesn't have to be a prophet to prophesize that no team will avoid home defeat in the coming seasons.

However, it is not without it's shortcomings but limited this time, and the consequences of improper conducts have been devastating, to the extent of costing Kano Pillars their topflight status ahead of next season.

The lessons of such acts has been learnt the hard way for teams and fans who go overboard and fall victim of the set aside rules.

A look at some of the top the teams and their season in numbers

Rivers United - Champions

Champions, Rivers United picked up the most points in the concluded season, amassing 77 in the course of the 38 games, ten more than second placed Plateau United.

The Pride of Rivers as they are popularly known, average 2.03 points per game, which makes them the side with most points in any NPFL season in history.

Despite finishing the 2020/21 season in sixth, it took until the eleventh gameweek before the Stanley Eguma led side suffered a first loss of the season, when they were beaten by Plateau United in Jos, ending a run of ten games unbeaten.

The Champions recovered from that defeat astonishingly and went on another run of twelve without losing and that was where they got the breakthrough as they maintained top position on the log until the final day of the season.

Rivers United spent 30 weeks on the top of the standing, the record most week spent by any side in a season and they won the title with four games to spare, the earliest any side have clinched the title.

Strikers, Akuneto Chijioke, 19 and Rafiu Kayode Isahq, 14 finished first and fifth amongst the top scorers in the league and the contributions of this duo was massive in helping them first ever league success.

Rivers United scored more goals, 58, at least eight more than any other team in the league and also conceded the least goals, at least two fewer than the next team.

This also made the contributions of goalkeeper, Sochima Victor very crucial in achieving the success. The goalkeeper kept 16 clean sheets, joint most in the league season alongside Kayode Bankole of Remo Stars.

Rivers United picked up five wins and seven draws away from home, making them the side to have recorded the most away points in the NPFL history with 22.

Plateau United - First Runner-up

A second place finish was never in doubt for Plateau United, who were as impressive as the Champions themselves and even made it a two horse race up to some point in the season.

Poor start to the season and inability to show up in the away games costed them what could have been but for a team that finished ninth in the previous season, it is massive improvement from Fidelis Ikechukwu side.

The side picked up a staggering 18 wins and one draw in their home games, avoiding a defeat all through the season. They are only the other team aside Champion, Rivers United and Kwara United not to suffer a home defeat.

Their 55 points earned at home is second to none in the league, level with champions, Rivers United.

After losing out on the league title by ten points in the end, Fidelis Ikechukwu and his boys will know where exactly they've let themselves down and that is away from home, something they'll be looking to correct next season.

13 losses away from home is definitely poor return for any side that is to be crowned Champions. Now they know.

A place in the Champions League next season is the biggest positive they will hold on to and that will serve as another source of encouragement for the management to invest more and build on the success achieved this term.

Remo Stars - Second Runner-up

Baby of the league as qualified by team manager, Gbenga Ogunbote, Remo Stars were the real deal in the concluded league season.

The Ikenne Warriors enjoyed a historical season, as every good thing that happened to them over the course of the 38 game season is in all likelihood be happening for the first time.

Having been eliminated in each of the two seasons they had been promoted to the topflight, Remo Stars made several changes on regaining promotion back into the NPFL and that has paid massive dividends in under a year.

The first step was appointing veteran manager, Gbenga Ogunbote, who had just left his role at Sunshine Stars of Akure after leading them to a sixteenth place finish, just able to avoid relegation.

From their preseason games, the warning sounds has been made that this team is going to be a threat for oppositions, but not many see them finishing in the top three.

Started the season on a sound note by staying unbeaten in their first eleven games, which saw them pick up six wins, two coming away from home, there was the conviction that it is bound to be a historical season for the Ikenne based stars.

Kayode Bankole was at the focal point of their success. The goalkeeper kept 16 clean sheets despite not being the only one in goal throughout the season.

Striker Andy Okpe, who arrived from Inter Allies at the end of last season was the showman for the team.

The tall striker bagged 13 goals in 31 appearances while Sikiru Alimi, who recently joined, registered quantifiable amount with eight, most of them being crucial goals, including the lone winner against Enyimba on matchday 36.

Samuel Anakwe and Tolulope Ojo also scored four each to help the course of the team.

However, the true showstoppers of the team, dictating the play and implementing Gbega Ogunbote tactics on the pitch are Olamilekan Adebayo, Dayo Ojo and Qudus Akanni.

Remo Stars were arguably the most entertaining team in league and having secured the CAF Confederations Cup ticket, an even better version of the team is to be anticipated next season.

Eighteen wins all season, fifteen of them at home, impressive for a newly promoted side yet disappointing for what they are building, makes them a team to watch out for next season, both domestically and on the continent, Remo Stars is here to stay.

Kwara United - Third Runner-up

Kwara United will obviously be very disappointed for losing out on a continental spot, having finished third in the previous season.

They are one of the most impressive sides this season and even maintained an invincible record at home.

Away wasn't their favourite ground as most of the other teams in the league but not being able to reach the 65 points tally of the 2020/21 season is what the team will look to back to and be disappointed.

Enyimba - Seventh

It is a season to forget for the Peoples Elephants and their manager, Finidi George, who will be very lucky to still keep his job after a disappointing campaign.

The record winners of the league ended the season with a run of five games without a win, losing four including an underwhelming display in the 1-0 loss to Remo Stars in Ikenne, with Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro in attendence.

They suffered 16 losses, joint most of any team in the top half, and won one less than they lost. It was a disappointing campaign overall for the Aba landlords but they were still well placed than their fellow big guns, Kano Pillars.

Akwa United - Ninth

The last year defending Champions fell real short this time around as they finished out of the top four for the first time in over three seasons.

Inability to see out games saw them pick up 13 draws and lost five games by a goal margin. Their 13 draws is the most of any side in the season, at least two more than the next teams, Abia Warriors and Enugu Rangers.

The loss of striker, Charles Atshimene at the end of last season saw them short of strike force, and they ended up conceding more goals than they scored.

Ayodeji Ayeni will hope for quality recruitment if he can keep his job, having replaced Kennedy Boboye earlier in the year to help the team be more established again, as one of the powerhouse of Nigerian football.

Kano Pillars - Nineteenth

The Pillars of Kano fell as Kano Pillars were relegated from the NPFL following the aftermath of their action in the matchday 31 clash with Dakkada FC, which prompted the LMC to deduct from their earned points.

Pillars relegate for the first time in over 20 years. A huge blow to one of the biggest side in Nigeria football.

MFM FC - Twentieth

It's been coming for the Lagos based club right at the start of the season following a 2-0 home loss to newly promoted Remo Stars.

Nine wins and as many draws in 38 games saw them record 20 loses. They were on the receiving end of almost all the good records of the other teams in the concluded league season.

They've scored the fewest and conceded the most goals and finished with a goal difference of -25. They recorded the least wins and suffered the most loses and finished with 26 points, already relegated with with two games to spare.

Seven games lost at home, more than any other side in the league whilst they failed to pick up any win away from home.

Lesson learnt in a tough way for the Agege landlords and when next they return to the topflight, they better use it well for their own good.

This is as far as we can go about the teams talked about. Hopefully, the league will be more elite in coming years and representatives in the continental competitions will do the NPFL proud. We wish them success in the future.

Happy holiday, Nigerian Professional Football League...

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi