NPFL23 : Abridge format a distorted approach but winners always find a way

The regular season of the Nigerian Premier Football League has come to a close following the conclusion of game gameweek 18 fixtures, which delivered just one big difference on the standing.

The plight of the clubs as to their reason for the initial rejection of the abridge approach was understood during the cause of the campaign but that appeared the only possible option to adjust the calendar, following the delayed start.

Here, we take a look at each team and how their season has panned out so far, starting from the top three teams in each group, though more is still to come with the Super Six in Lagos, next month.

Bendel Insurance

Returning to the league after going down in 2019 when an abridge format was also adopted, the Benin Arsenal took the league by storm this time around, and managed to complete the group stage in A unbeaten. 

Monday Odigie's side won their first five games of the campaign, establishing a massive lead in the group having beaten top sides like Remo Stars and Plateau United at home while also getting maximum points in their travel to Akwa United and Kwara United. 

They would finish the first half of the campaign with a record of seven wins and two draws, which helped their manager won multiple League Bloggers' Manager of the month awards.

Their cause was also aided by the red-hot form of striker, Imade Osehenkhoe, who scored a total of eight goals, including one in each of their first four games.

However, the team started having difficulty scoring goals after Osehenkhoe's goals dried up, though they had players like Echeta Deputy and Ismail Sarki, who delivered ample returns but their main man failed to score in their final seven league games.

They ended up winning only two games in the second half of the season and drawing seven times, though they luckily finished as group winner after Enyimba's failure to beat Shooting Stars in Ibadan.

Remo Stars Sports Club

It was always going to be a huge challenge keeping to the standard that was set last season under Gbenga Ogunbote but the Sky Blues of Ikenne would have thought otherwise after winning their first three league games without conceding.

However, they were brought down to earth in the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium by the Invincible Bendel Insurance, who thrashed them by four goals to nothing, their biggest defeat since making their first top-flight appearance in January 2017.

From there, they embarked on a disastrous run, which saw the Daniel Ogunmodede side record just a win in six games, losing three times to end the first half of the campaign.

That run of result meant they dropped out of the top three but they bounced back after the restart, managing to go unbeaten and winning five of their games, and this time, their coach, Ogunmodede was awarded the League Bloggers Manager of the month of April.

On final day, following Enyimba's failure to beat Shooting Stars in the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, Remo Stars climb to second, finishing the group campaign with momentum that will be much needed in the Super Six next month.

Enyimba International Football Club

The People's Elephant made an inconsistent start to the but a three game winning run in February helped turned things around before losing to Bendel Insurance in Benin city, in the final round of games of the first half of the campaign. 

Their return after the mid-season break was not encouraging as they struggled, winning none of first three games, picking up two points in the process.

Finidi George in the end was able to get the puzzle right and Enyimba finished the league season with a run of six unbeaten, recording four massive wins in the process.

Akwa United's win away to Gombe United meant the two time African champion had to avoid a defeat away to Shooting Stars and they were able to do just that, as it finished goalless in Adamasingba.

Though they dropped from second to third but they wouldn't mind as the goal was a place in the Super Six, which they achieved at the end of the day.

Rivers United Football Club

The defending Champions really showed great resilience to maintain their top status from last season despite continental commitments.

Rivers United finished group B winners with as many points as Bendel of group A, despite losing twice, which is the second fewest in the two leagues combined.

Started the season with a pace setting 13 points from possible 15 before suffering a first defeat of the season away to Doma United.

Their CAF Confederation Cup hangover saw them draw back to games to Bayelsa United and Abia Warriors whilst they continued to play while many of the other teams were on break. However, that fact did not impact their performance for long as they return to winning ways with a 1-0 home win over Enugu Rangers.

The 3-2 loss away to Lobi Stars, no thanks to an Elijah Ani's late winner in mid April would ended up being their final league defeat as Stanley Eguma's side went on to win four of their final six games, moving to the group summit in the process.

Lobi Stars Football Club

For a side involved in the relegation battle last season, making it to the Super Six after finishing second in group B is a massive achievement for Mohammed Babaganaru's minions and that makes them literally the biggest winner of the abridge format. 

As said by the Manager in April, the goal is to reach the Super Six even though not many would have count on them doing so at the start of the season, but this position already looked achievable following their 3-2 win over Rivers United.

However, their form towards the ending of the league campaign is a real worry for the Makurdians, as their club could only fashion four points from possible 15, losing three times.

They'll need to do much better to make any impression in the Super Six. However, despite one success being a source of more to come, their season wouldn't be considered a failure if they in the end becomes the whipping team in Lagos next month.

Sunshine Stars Football Club

The biggest winner on final round of games as they moved from fourth to third, managing to beat both Abia Warriors and Doma United to the final slot for a place in Lagos next month.

Despite winning back to back games just once over the course of the 18 game weeks, Sunshine Stars of Akure amassed 27 points, and managed to stay ahead of Abia Warriors on superior goal difference.

Edith Agoye will be pleased to have finished in the top three of the group ahead of the other two teams, making them a much improved side from last season, when they finished out of the top ten.

Others 

Group A

AkwaUnited, with their 32 points would have secure second spot in Group B but that is one of the headaches of an abridge league, and the 2021 champions unfortunately find themselves on the receiving end.

After losing to Remo Stars in a decisive fixture in the end of April, their chances of reaching the Super Six was out of their own hands, moreso after Remo had success in their appeal against the three points deduction.

Deji Ayeni and his side managed to grind out maximum points in their final two games but those ahead did not relinquish their top spot, and Akwa United in the end had to settle for a fourth place finish.

Plateau United were in the race after beating Nasarawa United but then failed to win any of their three final games, massive drop-off that left them comfortably placed in fifth, three points ahead of shooting stars.

Gombe United's safety from relegation had been confirmed long ago while Kwara United had to wait until their 1-0 win over Nasarawa United in the penultimate matchday to secure top-flight status for next season.

Group B

Doma United will be most pained in the way they fell out of the Super Six spot but what a season they had straight from the Nigeria National League.

Despite a poor start to the season, which saw record just a win in their first five games, Akinade Onigbinde managed to play hid side in a good position with three games to go.

A win from there would have been enough to seal progress into the Super Six but the Savanah Tigers could only cough up a point, and were eventually overtaken by both Sunshine Stars and Abia Warriors after full-time whilst on Sunday.

Abia Warriors knew their fate isn't in their own hands but first, they have to beat Doma United to stand any chance. Good news they were able to beat Doma but unfortunately, Sunshine Stars' win ended their chances of qualification for the Super Six.

Their goal difference, which was in the end what let them down was not helped after a 4-0 humiliation in the hands of Wikki Tourist of Bauchi in their penultimate game of the season, while a 5-1 defeat to Bayelsa United in the start of Arpil will also hurt, now more than ever. 

With a negative two goal difference, they fall short against Sunshine Stars, who stays above with positive six goal difference. 

Niger Tornado could be said as the biggest bottler of all as they were in a good position to reach the Super Six and four points in final three games would have done it but they lost all three.

That means they ended the season confortably in sixth, two points ahead of newcomers Bayelsa United, who also secured safety thanks to the 2-0 win over Tornado on final day.

Enugu Rangers also managed to avoid relegation on the same 21 points as Bayelsa United but inferior goal difference means they are placed eighth on the standing.

Relegation

Nasarawa United and El Kanemi Warriors go down to the Nigeria National League from Group A while Wikki Tourist and Dakkada FC follow suit in Group B.

Author : Kehinde Hassan Afolabi