Survival battles in NPFL go down to the wire

The 2024 StarTimes/NPFL title has been won and lost but the battle for survival featuring over four sinking clubs will be fought aggressively this weekend as the curtains fall on the eventful season.  After a faltering start to the season, Enugu Rangers International regained composure and emerged champions with one matchday to spare after they […]

The 2024 StarTimes/NPFL title has been won and lost but the battle for survival featuring over four sinking clubs will be fought aggressively this weekend as the curtains fall on the eventful season. 

After a faltering start to the season, Enugu Rangers International regained composure and emerged champions with one matchday to spare after they defeated Bendel Insurance 2-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on the penultimate Sunday. 

Their closest rivals Remo Stars and Enyimba kissed the title goodbye after they all dropped valuable points in their respective matches at Sporting FC Lagos and Sunshine Stars, paving the way for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ to win their eighth title with an unassailable 67 points. 

Had Remo Stars and Enyimba secured victories, they would have at least delayed Rangers’ title celebrations. However, their failure ignited wild celebrations at the ‘Cathedral’ where Rangers’ faithful had gathered in their thousands to celebrate another title after eight years of waiting. 

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As the final round of matches are held tomorrow across match venues, Rangers’ away trip to already relegated Gombe United is for formality but there is still so much left for Remo Stars and Enyimba who have their eyes on the remaining CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup ticket. 

Remo Stars despite their 1-2 defeat at Sunshine Stars in week 37 are in pole position to secure the second Champions League spot alongside Rangers. The ‘Sky Blue Stars’ on 62 points will play host to Katsina United and an outright win will land them the second Champions League slot.

However, hot on the tails of Remo Stars are Enyimba and 3SC. Jonathan Alukwu’s late goal for Sporting Lagos in week 37 ended the title hopes of the ‘Peoples Elephants’ but if Enyimba win the maximum points against  Plateau United and Remo Stars are beaten at home, they will grab the second Champions League ticket.

Although they may be considered as outsiders, 3SC with 59 points and +13 goal difference also have a chance of clinching the second Champions League ticket, if they win with a good scoreline against relegation-threatened Sporting Lagos at home and both Remo Stars and Enyimba suffer defeats.

But in the event that all the contenders draw their matches, then Remo Stars will take home the Champions League slot while Enyimba will pocket a Confederation Cup ticket for consolation. But if Enyimba eventually get judgement in their appeal against Doma United, the final standings on the log will be altered. 

Mathematically, Plateau United who are in fifth position on 58 points with a massive +15 goal difference also stand a chance of picking a Confederation Cup ticket if they beat demoralised Enyimba and 3SC lose at home to Sporting FC. 

So, among the top six clubs, only Lobi Stars who have a poor goal difference of +4 can’t realistically dream of a continental ticket. However, anything can happen in case the apple cart is upset on Sunday. 

How Sporting, Doma, others played into relegation waters

In the first round, Sporting Lagos won five, lost six and drew eight matches to earn 21 points. They had scored 17 goals and conceded 20 and were placed 15th as at MatchDay 19.

However, in the second stanza, they managed only seven wins, two draws and eight defeats for a grand total of 46 points to land in 17th position on the table.

In the same vein, Bayelsa United won four, drew six and lost nine matches to earn 18 points in the first stanza but have managed to win eight more matches with five draws and five loses for a grand total of 47.They scored 44 goals and conceded 50 for a -6 goal difference.

On their part, Kano Pillars ended the first stanza in fourth position after 10 wins, two draws and seven losses. But in the second round, they managed to win only four matches, five draws and nine losses for a grand total of 49 points, leaving them 12th on the table. The ‘Masu gida boys’ also scored 46 goals and conceded 48 to have a -2 goal difference.

Kwara United also called ‘Afonja Warriors’ were 13th on the table at the end of the first round after five wins, eight draws and four losses. With a match to go, the Warriors are still 13th on the table after six victories, seven draws and seven losses in the second round. In total, they have won 11, drawn 15 and lost 11 matches to earn 48 points. They also scored 34 goals and conceded 37 for a -3 goal difference. 

Akwa United finished the first stanza in 16th place after five wins, six draws and eight losses. With a match to go, United are still 16th on the log after they managed to record eight wins, nine losses and one draw in the final round. They now have a total of 13 wins, seven draws and 17 defeats leaving them with 46 points and a 0 goal difference

In the first stanza, Doma United were title contenders after amassing nine wins, five draws and five losses to finish in third position on the table. Surprisingly, after disappointing results, they are now 18th on the table after two wins, five draws and 11 defeats in the second round for a total of 43 points with a -16 goal difference. This shambolic second round performance has made the ‘Savannah Tigers’ a sure candidate for relegation.

Race for survival 

The final matchday will be interesting at the lower end of the table with eight clubs yet to confirm their status for next season in the StarTimes/NPFL. Already Gombe United and Heartland have been relegated to the second tier, the Nigeria National League (NNL), but Kano Pillars, Kwara United and Niger Tornadoes are looking over their shoulders as the likes of Bayelsa United, Akwa United, Sporting Lagos and Doma United are threatening to pull them down.

Sporting Lagos and Doma United will begin the final matchday in the relegation zone. However, the ‘Savannah Tigers’ as Doma United are called harmed their chances of survival after they lost 0-1 at home to Sunshine Stars in a rearranged  fixture to drop further into the relegation waters.

With a -16 goal difference which is the worst among the clubs battling for survival, Doma United will host Abia Warriors while Sporting Lagos face 3SC in a tough Southwest Derby at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.

Akwa United and Bayelsa United sit just above the drop zone after contrasting results on Matchday 37. The ‘Promise Keepers’ will fight for the crucial three points against Rivers United in Uyo on the final day while Bayelsa United make the trip to Benin City to play against Bendel Insurance who have just the points to play for. 

Unless the final day throws up outrageous outcomes, the quartet of Sunshine Stars, Kano Pillars, Kwara United and Niger Tornadoes need a point each from their final day matches to keep their places in the topflight for another season.

Kano Pillars and Kwara United play at home against Lobi Stars and Heartland respectively while Tornadoes and Sunshine Stars go head-to-head in Kaduna.