The drama associated with keenly contested leagues unfolded as the Nigeria Premier League for the season 2023/24 came to an end on Sunday.

Though the league champions, Enugu Rangers had emerged a week earlier, there were lots for the other contestants to fight for.

Expectedly, there were last match day dramas. Remo Stars did not find it easy as visiting Katsina United gave them a run for their money in a keenly contested match that Remo Stars won 2-1 in Ikenne.

The scoreline cemented their second position and a ticket to the CAF Champions League.

It is the third consecutive time the Boys from Ikenne achieved that feat in a row.

 For Shooting Stars who had their best run since the 1998 season, it was near yet too far.

They were on the verge of placing third after their 1-0 defeat of the now relegated Sporting Lagos. But the win turned a vain as a related fixture in Aba involving Enyimba and Plateau United changed final position.

 With scoreline still at 0-0 in Aba, it was advantage Shooting Stars. But like the strong elephant that they are, Enyimba fought harder and had two goals in the last 12 minutes of their encounter to upstage Shooting Stars and obtained a CAF Confederation Cup ticket.

While the battle at the summit was fierce, the same was the case at the lower rung.

Lagos flamboyant sides, Sporting Lagos crumbled to a 1-0 defeat in Ibadan and went down.   Akwa United and Bayelsa United laboured and escaped the drop.

Enyimba FC who are desperately seeking a return to the continental fixtures next season have been relieved of a little financial burden by the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.

 The initial N10 million fine imposed on the team has been reduced almost by half.

 In the ill-tempered match with Enugu Rangers three weeks ago, the Nigeria Premier League fine Enyimba N5 million as part of the disciplinary measures taken, claiming that Enyimba disrupted the live telecast of the match.

The NFF committee disagrees with the decision and therefore set aside the fine imposed.

Enyimba will this Sunday host Plateau United in a potentially volatile match as both teams have varying chances of picking continental ticket to feature in either the CAF Champions League or the Confederation Cup.

A stroll in the park to be followed by victory parade are the anticipated spectacles in Jos when Enugu Rangers face ‘home’ sides, Gombe United this Sunday.

But elsewhere, it could be ‘thunder and blood’ battle as four eligibles fight for two obtainable continental tickets in three venues of Ikenne, Ibadan and Aba.

Remo Stars, Shooting Stars, Enyimba and Plateau United are aspirants jostling for continental tickets.

On the other side of the struggle is also the battle to evade relegation. Coincidentally, Ibadan  provides the venue for both dreams where the hosts, Shooting Stars, will be hoping to pick a ticket to any of the two CAF inter-clubs competitions while the debuting Premier League sides, Sporting Lagos are expected to play the game of their life.

Coincidentally, Shooting Stars were expected to give the Lagos sides the succour last weekend when they faced Bayelsa United.

 Had Shooting Stars won the match, Sporting Lagos which upstaged Enyimba 2-1, would have been in comfort zone, making Sunday’s duel at the Lekan Salami a ‘merry-making’ venture for both sides.

But a twist of fortunes which saw Bayelsa fighting back to a 2-1 win means Shooting Stars will have to spare no weapon on Sunday to beat Sporting Lagos.

The visitors on the other hand have a mountain to climb to avoid the looming drop.

 Ikenne provides another battle ground, though with lesser gravity than what is expected in Ibadan and Aba. A win of any margin secures CAF Champions League ticket for Remo Stars as they host Katsina United who stay without threat in the middle of the league log.

But the battle will be fiercer in Aba where both hosts, Enyimba and visiting Plateau United have arithmetical and conjectural chances of making the top three and obtaining a continental ticket.

While the battle at the top of the log is for two teams to join Enugu Rangers in getting continental ticket, so also it is at the bottom as both Gombe United and Heartland await the two others that will escort them to the lower league.

 Battling to avoid the drop are Sporting Lagos, Doma United, Akwa United and Bayelsa.