2019–20 Nigeria Professional Football League

The 2019–2020 Nigeria Professional Football League was the 49th season of the top-flight division of the Nigerian football league system and the 30th season since its rebranding as the 'Professional League'. The league started on 3 November 2019 but was cancelled in July due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with no champions and no teams relegated. Enyimba were the defending champions, after winning the Super 6 play-offs the previous season

Nigeria Professional Football League
Season2019–2020
Promoted
RelegatedNone
Champions League
Confederation Cup
Matches played246
Goals scored494 (2.01 per match)
Top goalscorerIsrael Abia (12 goals)
Biggest home winKano Pillars 6–1 Kwara United[lower-alpha 1] (8 December 2019)

Plateau United 5–0 Adamawa United (19 January 2020)

Heartland 5–0

Adamawa United (16 February 2020)
Biggest away winAdamawa United 0–3

Sunshine Stars (15 December 2019)

Dakkada 0–3 Nasarawa United (16 January 2020)

Abia Warriors 1–4 Enyimba (17 February 2020)
Highest scoringKano Pillars 6–1 Kwara United[lower-alpha 1] (8 December 2019)
Longest winning runEnyimba & Akwa United (5 matches)
Longest unbeaten runKano Pillars (13 matches)
Longest winless runWikki Tourists & Nasarawa United (8 matches)
Longest losing runAdamawa United (5 matches)
← 2019
All statistics correct as of 11 August 2020.

The league was initially halted on 18 March 2020 following a decision by the League Management Company to suspend the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic[1] with no decision made on the league's resumption. On 10 July 2020 however, the league was cancelled by the NFF for the second time in three seasons (after the 2018 season ended in a similar way), following an online meeting between its executive committee and the league board with no champions and no relegation or promotion from the National League, and stopped at Matchday 25.[2]

As a result of this, the league's representatives at the continental competitions next season were decided by the PPG system, which created confusion and disagreement among the teams as Rivers United refused to accept their CAF Confederation Cup spot initially given to them.[3][4]

Based on the points per game system, Plateau United and Enyimba will represent the country at the 2020–21 CAF Champions League while Rivers United will participate at the CAF Confederation Cup, since the 2020 Federation Cup was cancelled, Kano Pillars, the 2019 Federation Cup champions, will take the second CAF Confederation Cup spot.[5]

Teams

The league consisted of 20 teams, the 4 promoted teams from the Nigeria National League and the remaining 16 teams from the previous season. On 28 November, Kwara United bought Delta Force's slot and replaced them in the league.[6]

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium
Abia Warriors Umuahia Umuahia Township Stadium
Adamawa United Yola Pantami Stadium[lower-alpha 2]
Akwa United F.C. Uyo Godswill Akpabio International Stadium
Dakkada Uyo Godswill Akpabio International Stadium
Enugu Rangers Enugu Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium
Enyimba Aba Enyimba International Stadium
Heartland F.C. Owerri Okigwe Stadium
Ifeanyi Ubah F.C. Nnewi Ifeanyi Ubah FC International Stadium
Jigawa Golden Stars Dutse Sani Abacha Stadium[lower-alpha 3]
Kano Pillars Kano Sani Abacha Stadium
Katsina United Katsina Muhammadu Dikko Stadium
Kwara United Ilorin Kwara State Stadium
Lobi Stars Makurdi Aper Aku Stadium
MFM F.C. Lagos Agege Stadium
Nasarawa United Lafia Lafia Township Stadium
Plateau United Jos New Jos Stadium
Rivers United Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium
Sunshine Stars Akure Akure Township Stadium
Warri Wolves Warri Warri Township Stadium
Wikki Tourists F.C. Bauchi Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium
  1. This match was originally played by Delta Force
  2. Adamawa United played their home matches at Pantami Stadium, Gombe instead of their regular home stadium Ribadu Square Stadium, Yola as it didn't meet LMC's stadium requirements
  3. Jigawa Golden Stars shared Kano Pillars' Sani Abacha Stadium as their home stadium instead of their regular home stadium Hadejia Stadium, Hadejia as it didn't meet LMC's stadium requirements

Locations
Locations of the 2019-20 Nigerian Professional Football League Teams

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG
1 Plateau United (Q) 25 14 7 4 36 15 +21 49 1.96 Qualification to the 2020–21 CAF Champions League
2 Enyimba[lower-alpha 1] (Q) 20 11 3 6 30 20 +10 36 1.80
3 Rivers United (Q) 25 13 6 6 28 15 +13 45 1.80 Qualification to the 2020–21 CAF Confederation Cup
4 Lobi Stars 25 12 7 6 26 19 +7 43 1.72
5 Enugu Rangers 24 10 7 7 25 20 +5 37 1.54
6 Kano Pillars[lower-alpha 2] (Q) 24 8 10 6 27 18 +9 34 1.42 Qualification to the 2020–21 CAF Confederation Cup
7 Katsina United 24 9 7 8 18 25 −7 34 1.42
8 Akwa United F.C. 25 8 11 6 23 22 +1 35 1.40
9 Warri Wolves 24 9 6 9 25 23 +2 33 1.38
10 Sunshine Stars 25 9 7 9 27 29 −2 34 1.36
11 Ifeanyi Ubah F.C. 25 10 3 12 25 28 −3 33 1.32
12 Dakkada 26 8 10 8 26 26 0 34 1.31
13 Heartland F.C. 25 9 5 11 21 21 0 32 1.28
14 MFM F.C. 25 8 7 10 19 19 0 31 1.24
15 Wikki Tourists F.C. 25 8 7 10 23 24 −1 31 1.24
16 Abia Warriors 25 8 6 11 23 28 −5 30 1.20
17 Nasarawa United (R) 25 8 5 12 27 27 0 29 1.16
18 Jigawa Golden Stars 25 9 2 14 25 35 −10 29 1.16
19 Kwara United[lower-alpha 3] 25 8 4 13 23 33 −10 28 1.12
20 Adamawa United 25 6 2 17 17 47 −30 20 0.80
Source: NPFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Enyimba were ranked higher than Rivers United despite having the same PPG, they were ranked based on the 'Weighty Points Per Game' system.
  2. Since the 2020 Federation Cup was cancelled, Kano Pillars, the 2019 Federation Cup champions will qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup.
  3. Delta Force played the first 7 matches of the season, then sold their league spot to Kwara United, which took over their record and remaining fixtures.

Results
Home \ Away ABW ADA AKW DAK ENU ENY HEA IFU JGS KAN KAT KWA LOB MFM NAS PLA RIV SUN WWV WIK
Abia Warriors 2–1 2–1 1–1 – 1–4 – 2–1 2–1 0–0 2–0 – – 1–0 – 3–0 – 1–1 1–0 –
Adamawa United 1–0 – – 1–1 0–2 1–0 2–1 – – 4–0 2–1 0–1 – 2–1 – 0–2 0–3 0–1 0–0
Akwa United 0–0 4–0 2–2 0–0 – 3–1 – – – 0–0 0–2 1–0 – 1–1 – 2–1 – 1–1 1–0
Dakkada – 4–1 0–1 2–3 2–1 1–0 1–0 2–0 1–2 – 0–0 – – 0–3 0–0 2–1 – 1–0 –
Enugu Rangers 3–1 2–0 1–2 0–2 – – 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 – – 0–1 – 0–0 1–0 1–0 3–0 –
Enyimba 2–1 2–0 3–1 – – 0–2 – – – – 2–0 1–1 – 3–1 – 1–0 3–0 – 3–0
Heartland 1–0 5–0 – 1–1 2–1 – – 1–0 1–1 0–0 – 2–0 0–1 – 1–0 0–2 1–0 – –
Ifeanyi Ubah 1–0 0–0 2–1 – 2–0 1–0 – – – 1–0 0–0 1–0 – – 1–0 3–1 3–1 2–0
Jigawa GS – 3–2 0–1 – – 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 – 2–1 1–0 – 1–0 0–1 1–1 – 2–1 2–1
Kano Pillars – 2–0 2–0 2–0 – – – 1–0 2–0 – 6–1 0–1 1–0 – – 0–0 – 1–1 0–0
Katsina United 1–0 – 1–1 0–0 – 1–1 – 1–0 3–2 1–1 – – 1–0 1–0 – 2–0 2–1 –
Kwara United 2–0 – – 1–1 1–0 – 0–1 – 4–1 – 2–0 0–1 1–0 – 1–3 1–1 0–0 – 1–0
Lobi Stars 1–0 – – 0–0 1–1 – 3–0 1–0 – 2–2 1–0 4–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 – 2–0 – 2–1
MFM 2–1 2–0 3–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 3–1 – – – 0–0 0–0 – – 1–1 –
Nasarawa United 3–1 – 0–0 – 2–1 2–0 1–0 3–2 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 – 1–1 – – 1–2 0–1
Plateau United – 5–0 0–0 2–0 – 4–0 – 5–1 2–1 0–0 – 2–1 3–1 – 2–1 1–0 – 1–0 2–1
Rivers United 0–0 – – – 2–1 – 1–1 1–0 – 2–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 – 2–1 3–0 0–0
Sunshine Stars 1–0 – 1–0 1–1 0–0 1–0 – 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–2 – – 1–1 4–2 2–1 – 1–1 –
Warri Wolves – 2–0 1–1 – 1–2 – 1–0 – – – 2–0 2–1 0–0 2–0 – – 0–1 3–0 1–0
Wikki Tourists 1–1 – – 1–1 1–1 – 1–0 – 2–1 1–0 1–1 3–1 4–0 2–1 1–0 0–1 – 1–2 –
Source: NPFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals[7]
1 Israel Abia Enugu Rangers 12
2 Ibrahim Mustapha Plateau United 11
Ndifreke Effiong Udo Akwa United
Auwalu Ali Mallam Kano Pillars
5 Victor Mbaoma Enyimba 9
6 Tasiu Lawal Katsina United 8
Stanley Dimgba Enyimba
Malachi Ohawume Rivers United

Most assists


Rank Player Club Assists
1 Cyril Olisema Enyimba 10
2 Femi Ajayi Dakkada 6
3 Rabiu Ali Kano Pillars 5
4 Daniel Itodo Plateau United 4
Samuel Nnoshiri Heartland FC
Nyima Nwagua Kano Pillars
Ibrahim Abubakar Plateau United

Clean sheets
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 Chinedu Anozie Plateau United 10
2 Jean Efala Akwa United 9
3 Suraj Ayeleso Kano Pillars 8
Sharp Uzoigwe FC Ifeanyi Ubah
Abayomi Folarin MFM FC
Vincent Edafe Dakkada
Ibrahim Pius Wikki Tourists FC

News
  • On 29 November 2019, Ifeanyi Ubah's bus was attacked by armed robbers near Lokoja, Kogi State's capital during a trip to Kano for their match against Jigawa Golden Stars which left players and members of the coaching crew "critically injured" according to the club.[9]
  • Katsina United and Kano Pillars were fined N3.5 million($9) and N1.5 million($3.8) by the League Management Company on 25 January 2020 for their fans misconduct during their fixture 10 days earlier in Katsina.[10]
  • In a similar incident, the 16 January 2020 fixture between Abia Warriors and Enyimba was postponed to Monday, 17 January 2020 and played without spectators after the match was disrupted and couldn't be completed on the initial date.[11] Abia Warriors were later fined by the League Management Company for fan violence.[12]
  • Nasarawa United's defender Chineme Martins collapsed at the Lafia Township Stadium during a home league match versus Katsina United on 8 March 2020. He was attended to by medics and later rushed to an hospital where he was later confirmed dead.[13]The Nigeria Football Federation ordered all NPFL clubs to provide all necessary medical equipment and personnel before hosting any other game. Owing to the poor first aid assistance at the stadium.[14] All players wore black armbands and a minute's silence held before the commencement of all Matchday 24 games as triubte. A round of applause was held for him at the 20th minute of each game.[15]

References
  1. "COVID-19: LMC suspends Nigeria Professional Football League till further notice". Busybuddies. 18 March 2020.
  2. "2019/20 NPFL season cancelled with no promotion or relegation". Goal.com. 10 July 2020.
  3. "LMC publishes final league classification". aclsports.com. 8 August 2020.
  4. "Rivers United threaten to approach FIFA,10 CAF and CAS over Champions league slot". bsnsports.com. 9 August 2020.
  5. "Kano Pillars excited for continental return". Africanfootball.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  6. "Kwara United buys Delta Force's slot in the NPFL". Goal.com. 28 November 2019.
  7. "NPFL 2019/2020 top scorers". NPFL. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  8. "NPFL at 30". Busybuddies. 27 May 2019.
  9. "Nigeria's Ifeanyi Ubah's bus attacked in Kogi State". BBC. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  10. "Katsina United and Kano Pillars hit with heavy fines for fan violence". Goal.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  11. "Crowd trouble in Abia Derby causes match to be postponed". The Punch. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  12. "Abia Warriors bag N5 Million fine for fan trouble In Abia Derby". Vanguard. 27 February 2020.
  13. "Nigerian player collapses on pitch". BBC Africa. 9 March 2020.
  14. "NFF orders clubs to provide adequate medical facilities before every league game". Pulse.ng. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  15. "NPFL players to don black armband, observe one minute applause for fallen defender". Busybuddies. 14 March 2020.
  16. "Two Nigerian players killed in car crash". BBC SportAfrica. 22 March 2020.
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