NPFL Wrap: Enyimba, Kwara United, Wikki Tourists S…

A pleasant day to you and welcome to the compilation of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2020/21 news headlines on AllNews for today, Friday, August 6, 2021.

Here are NPFL news headlines:


NPFL: Wikki Tourists beat Adamawa United 2-0 to escape relegation

Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi, on Thursday, snatched a 2-0 win at home over  Adamawa United Football Club of Yola, to escape relegation from the 2020/2021 NPFL.

Wikki Tourist beat the visiting Adamawa 2-0 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa stadium, Bauchi, to maintain its 25th position on the table, with 45 points from 38 matches.

Tourists’ Hassan Mustapha gave his team the lead through a header in the 21st minute of the game and in the 38th minute, Nazifi Yahaya of the Tourists utilised a counter attack to make it two for the home side.

The second half saw a defensive Wikki Tourists, as the visitors piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser that never came, as the match ended in favour of the Tourists.

Abdallah Bura, the Wikki Tourists head coach, speaking shortly after the match, appreciated God for giving him the opportunity to serve his state and rescue Wikki Tourists from going into relegation.

“The miracle behind the victory was hard work and God’s blessings to escape relegation. Since I started as the coach I didn’t lose woefully as we played many Football clubs and won”, he said.

On his part, Justine Madugu, head coach of Adamawa United, said games were always like that, either to lose or win.

“It’s always the case with us, we have good and bad moments in the league. It is not a new thing that we lost. Our team, in terms of performance, we are done, but in terms of results we have not gotten what we deserve.

“The experience aspect also counted against us, sometimes the decision making comes along with experience,” Madugu said, explaining that the team had tried its best to get to this stage and their efforts should be appreciated.

Hassan Musa, a football fan and supporter of Wikki Tourists, described coach Bura as the one who saved the team from relegation, saying that he deserved to be rewarded by the club’s management.

Rangers International FC thrash visiting Plateau United 2-0

Rangers International FC of Enugu signed off the 2020/2021 NPFL on Thursday with a 2-0 win against visiting Plateau United.

With the result, the Flying Antelopes finished seventh on the NPFL table with 62 points, while Plateau United ended the league on ninth with 51 points.

Issif Traore opened scores for the home side during the encounter at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium shortly before the interval.

Olawoyin Ibrahim made it two in the 83rd minute to secure Rangers’ maximum three points.

Speaking at the post-match interview with journalists, Rangers Team Manager, Amobi Ezeaku, said: “It is  not easy being in the continent in the last five years, and  finishing 7th on the log this season.

“We are happy that God saw us through the season, especially in this era of insecurity in the country.

“Continental league was our target but as we have missed it this season, 2021/2022 will be our time,” Ezeaku said.

Enyimba clinch CAF Champions League place as Sunshine Stars escape relegation

The 2020/2021 NPFL season ended on Thursday the day’s high points in Enyimba International’s upward surge and Sunshine Stars’ escape from relegation.

With the competition’s title already gone since Match Day 37 to Akwa United, only one 2021/2022 CAF Champions League slot and one 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup ticket were at stake.

Enyimba surprised all with a 3-1 away win in Uyo against Dakkada FC to move from fifth to second and qualify to return to the CAF Champions League.

The Aba-based 2019/2020 champions moved ahead of Nasarawa United, Kano Pillars and Rivers United of Port Harcourt who all lost their matches.

Kwara United also moved from sixth to third, upstaging on goals difference Nasarawa United of Lafia who finished fourth after losing 1-3 to hosts Abia Warriors of Umuahia.

This was after they beat visiting Katsina United 3-0 in Ilorin, to claim the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup ticket.

Kano Pillars dropped to fifth after losing 0-1 to Heartland FC of Owerri, while Rivers United dropped to sixth after being involved in the day’s biggest talking point.

Sunshine Stars of Akure beat Rivers United 1-0 dramatically escape relegation by moving into 16th place above Jigawa Golden Stars who lost 0-2 to MFM FC in Lagos.

Rangers International and Lobi Stars maintained seventh and eighth places respectively after home wins, with the Enugu side beating Plateau United 2-0 and the Makurdi side beating new champions Akwa United.

The losses meant nothing to both the Jos side and Uyo side, just as it is in the case of Wikki Tourists of Bauchi who handed a 2-0 defeat to visiting Adamawa United of Yola.

The points gained did virtually nothing to boost or damage their final positions in the competition, just as the already-relegated FC IfeanyiUbah had no relief in beating Warri Wolves.1-0.

Adamawa United, FC IfeanyiUbah, Warri Wolves and Jigawa Golden Stars have all now been relegated into the 2021/2022 Nigeria National League (NNL).

Both Akwa United and Enyimba International will represent Nigeria in the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League.

Kwara United will join the winners of the 2021 Aiteo Cup in representing Nigeria in the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup.

Kwara Utd 3-0 victory over Katsina Utd excites AbdulRazaq, deputy

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and his deputy, Kayode Alabi, on Thursday watched on as Kwara United FC of Ilorin thrashed visiting Katsina United FC 3-0.

The match, which was the grand finale for the 2020/2021 NPFL season, was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin.

The match had the hosts dominated most of the proceedings with Nosir Afeez marshaling the midfield with determination and confidence.

Kwara United would have scored as early as the 4th minute but a solid piece of defending by Katsina United’s defenders denied them.

Katsina United’s Matthew Emmanuel called Dele Aiyenugba into action in the 14th minute forcing the former Super Eagles of Nigeria goalkeeper to a fine save.

Three minutes later, Kwara United’s midfield maestro, Nosir Afeez forced Katsina United’s goalkeeper to a great save from a 25 yards free kick.

The hosts drew the first blood in the 22nd minute when Junior Abayomi poked home a fine Muritala Lawal’s pass inside the goal area.

The visitors after conceding the first goal defended perfectly and maintained the 1-0 deficit into the break.

Kwara United returned more determined with Katsina United lowering the tempo at which they played in the first half, having in mind nothing at stake for them in the match except pride.

Michael Ohanu doubled Kwara United’s lead by expertly in the 63rd minute finishing off a fine Issa Gata’s low pass.

Ten minutes later, the centre referee pointed to the spot for a penalty for Kwara United after a Katsina United player was ruled to have handled the ball in his box.

Stephen Jude increased the homers tally to 3-0 in the 74th minute to put the game beyond the visitors and put it to bend on the final day of the season.

The match excited host Kwara governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and his deputy, Kayode Alabi, among other spectators.

NPFL Final Standings 

Pos         TEAM                             P       W     D        L     GD     Pts
1.    Akwa United                        38      19      14       5     +29        71

2.   Enyimba International       38      18      12       8      +8         66

3. Kwara United                          38      19        8       11     +20     65

4.  Nasarawa United                   38       20       5        13    +17       65

5.     Kano Pillars                          38         19        7        12      +9      64

6.     Rivers United                       38           18      9          11      +12     63

7.       Rangers International        38           18      8          12      +18     62

8.  Lobi Stars                                    38         17        7           14      +4      58

9.  Plateau United                            38           14      9          15       +10     51

10.      MFM FC                                  38         13     12         13        –1         51

11.       Dakkada FC                           38         15       5        18        –10      50

12.        Katsina United                    38         14       7        17         -7        49

13.    Heartland FC                            38          13        9      16      –9       48

14.    Abia Warriors                          38         12        11       15       -2      47

15.    Wikki Tourists                         38          12        9      17      –8      45

16.      Sunshine Stars                       38         11        12       15     –11      45

17.   Jigawa Golden Stars                38         11       10      16       –15     43

18.   Warri Wolves                           38          11       8      19         –15     41

19. FC IfeanyiUbah                        38         9         12        17         –17     39

20.  Adamawa United                  38          5         10       23        –35      25

NPFL Match Day 38 Results in full

Abia Warriors 3-1 Nasarawa United

Dakkada FC 1-3 Enyimba International

Rangers International 2-0 Plateau United

Heartland FC 1-0 Kano Pillars

FC IfeanyiUbah 1-0 Warri Wolves

Kwara United 3-0 Katsina United

Lobi Stars 2-1 Akwa United

MFM FC 2-0 Jigawa Golden Stars

Sunshine Stars 1-0 Rivers United

Wikki Tourists 2-0 Adamawa United


And that’s all on the NPFL 2020/21 news headlines on AllNews for today. More sports news headlines are on this dependable website. Do enjoy the rest of your day.