By Kunle Solaja

 More than a century after football first took root on Nigerian soil, the game is, in many ways, returning to its spiritual home.

Legend holds that Nigeria’s earliest recorded football match took place in Calabar on June 15, 1904, when students of Hope Waddell Training Institution faced British sailors from HMS Thistle.

While historians continue to debate the accuracy of that account, there is far less dispute about where the sport truly found its structure, identity and national relevance. This is Lagos!

From its colonial beginnings to the modern professional era, Lagos has remained the nerve centre of Nigerian football.

It was here that the game’s organisation first took shape with the establishment in 1932 of the Lagos & District Amateur Football Association (LDAFA), now known as the Lagos State Football Association — the oldest football body in the country.

It was also in Lagos that football evolved into a national movement. In 1933, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), today’s Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), was founded in the city, laying the administrative foundation for the sport across the country, despite lingering misconceptions that place its origin in 1945.

The city’s football heritage is equally tied to infrastructure. In 1936, Lagos witnessed the construction of Nigeria’s first major football arena, the Association Ground.

Over the decades, the facility has undergone several transformations — from King George V (KGV) Stadium to Lagos City Stadium, Onikan Stadium, and now the Mobolaji Johnson Arena — remaining a symbolic heartbeat of the game. The structures may have changed, but the ground at the waterfront remains the same.

Nigeria’s oldest football ground, the waterfront Mobolaji Johnson Arena, is set to host more Nigeria Premier Football League matches than any other venue in the 2026/27 season.

Today, that heartbeat is growing stronger.

With the promotion of Sporting Lagos and Inter Lagos to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), alongside Ikorodu City, Lagos now boasts three clubs in the country’s top flight — a development that signals a return to an era when the city dominated the domestic game.

The Lagos trio of Inter Lagos, Ikorodu City and Sporting Lagos will make Lagos the hub of the NPFL

The resurgence echoes the early 1990s, particularly 1993, when Lagos was home to four of the 16 clubs in the professional league — including the iconic Stationery Stores, Julius Berger, ACB, and VIP. During that period, the city was widely regarded as the epicentre of Nigerian football culture, talent and competition.

Three decades later, history appears to be repeating itself — albeit with a modern twist.

Unlike the largely corporate-backed teams of the past, the current Lagos trio is privately owned, reflecting a shift in the structure of Nigerian football. Analysts see this as a positive development, suggesting that private investment could bring improved management, financial stability and long-term vision to the domestic league.

Beyond symbolism, the practical benefits are significant. With three Lagos-based teams in the NPFL, each club is expected to play at least 12 of its 36 league matches within the city, reducing travel costs and logistical strain.

The proximity of neighbouring clubs such as Shooting Stars in Ibadan and Remo Stars in Ikenne further strengthens the regional football ecosystem, offering opportunities for local rivalries and increased fan engagement.

For Lagos, the implications go beyond numbers. The return of multiple top-flight clubs reinforces its status not just as a historical cradle of Nigerian football, but as a present-day engine for its growth.

As the new NPFL season approaches, one narrative stands out: football, in many ways, is coming back home — to Lagos, where its story in Nigeria was first truly written.

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By Kunle Solaja.

 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title race took another dramatic turn on Matchday 35 as leaders Enugu Rangers strengthened their grip at the summit, while challengers Rivers United stumbled to keep the contest wide open with three matches to go.

Rangers moved to 59 points after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Enyimba in Enugu on Sunday, extending their lead at the top. The Flying Antelopes showed resilience against their Oriental rivals, reinforcing their title credentials at a crucial stage of the season.

However, the biggest twist of the weekend came in Kano, where Kano Pillars defeated Rivers United 2-1, halting the Port Harcourt side’s momentum. The result leaves Rivers United just one point behind the leaders on 58 points, setting up a tense run-in.

Top Four Battle Intensifies

The race for continental spots is equally fierce, with Ikorodu City and Abia Warriors locked on 55 points.

Abia Warriors boosted their chances with a 2-1 win over Ikorodu City, a result that not only tightened the top four race but also dealt a blow to Ikorodu’s ambitions of closing the gap on the top two.

Shooting Stars, sitting fifth on 54 points, also kept pace with a valuable 2-1 away win against El Kanemi, staying firmly in contention for a continental ticket.

Mid-Table Shuffle

Further down the table, Nasarawa United delivered one of the most emphatic performances of the round, thrashing Warri Wolves 3-0 to climb to sixth with 53 points.

Bendel Insurance, who edged Wikki Tourists 2-1 on Saturday, remain seventh with 52 points, continuing their quiet push toward the top tier.

Elsewhere:

• Katsina United edged Bayelsa United 3-2 in a five-goal thriller
• Kwara United defeated Barau FC 2-1
• Remo Stars boosted survival hopes with a commanding 3-0 win over Niger Tornadoes
• Plateau United and Kun Khalifat settled for a 1-1 draw

Relegation Fight Goes Down to the Wire

At the bottom, the battle to avoid relegation remains intense. Wikki Tourists, Bayelsa United, and Kun Khalifat are all tied on 40 points, with only goal difference separating them.

Despite their defeat, Wikki Tourists remain within reach of safety, while Bayelsa United’s narrow loss in Katsina further complicates their survival hopes.

A Nervy Finish Beckons

With just three rounds left, the NPFL season is heading for a thrilling conclusion.

Rangers hold a slender advantage, but Rivers United remain firmly in pursuit, while the chasing pack continues to apply pressure from behind.

At both ends of the table, nothing is settled—ensuring that the final weeks of the season will be defined by tension, drama, and possibly, late twists in Nigeria’s top-flight story.

Week 35 Results

Saturday April 18

• Wikki Tourists 1-2 Bendel Insurance

Sunday April 19

• Plateau United 1-1 Kun Khalifat
• Enugu Rangers 2-1 Enyimba
• Katsina United 3-2 Bayelsa United
• Kano Pillars 2-1 Rivers United
• Kwara United 2-1 Barau
• Abia Warriors 2-1 Ikorodu City
• El Kanemi 1-2 Shooting Stars
• Nasarawa United 3-0 Warri Wolves
• Remo Stars 3-0 Niger Tornadoes

                                   The Table

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Enugu Rangers	35	16	11	8	41	25	16	59
2	Rivers United	35	16	10	9	35	29	6	58
3	Ikorodu City	35	15	10	10	38	32	6	55
4	Abia Warriors	35	16	7	12	30	27	3	55
5	Shooting Stars	35	16	6	13	37	37	0	54
6	Nasarawa United	35	15	8	12	34	28	6	53
7	Bendel Insurance	35	13	13	9	41	35	6	52
8	Katsina United	35	13	10	12	32	34	-2	49
9	Plateau United	35	14	5	16	38	38	0	47
10	Barau FC	35	11	13	11	28	29	-1	46
11	El Kanemi	35	13	7	15	30	40	-10	46
12	Kano Pillars	35	14	6	15	32	36	-4	45
13	Enyimba	35	11	10	14	39	39	0	43
14	Niger Tornadoes	35	12	7	16	34	34	0	43
15	Kwara United	35	12	10	13	28	30	-3	43
16	Remo Stars	35	13	4	18	38	43	-5	43
17	Warri Wolves	35	11	10	14	33	39	-6	43
18	Kun Khalifat	35	10	10	15	35	41	-6	40
19	Bayelsa United	35	10	10	15	32	38	-6	40
20	Wikki Tourists	35	9	13	13	32	39	-7	40

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With just a handful of matchdays left, the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season is reaching a decisive phase, where the battle for the title, continental spots and survival is becoming clearer, and the numbers tell a compelling story.

After 34 matchweeks and 340 matches played, a total of 663 goals have been scored, pointing to a league that has combined competitiveness with moments of attacking brilliance, even if the average goals per game stands at a modest 1.9.

At the heart of the campaign is the growing influence of emerging clubs like Ikorodu City, whose impressive second appearance at the top-flight league has been backed by remarkable statistics.

They remain one of only three sides yet to lose at home — alongside Enugu Rangers and El-Kanemi Warriors.

Ikorodu City’s impact goes beyond results. Their striker Joseph Arumala currently leads the goal charts with 12 goals, while goalkeeper Michael Atata has recorded a league-high 16 clean sheets, providing the defensive backbone for their campaign.

Yet, their season has not been without flaws. They are the only side to have conceded four or more second-half goals in a match.

Across the league, attacking contributions have come from unlikely sources. Rangers’ defender Chidozie Iwundu has netted eight times to emerge as the highest-scoring defender, while Shooting Stars midfielder Ayobami Abiodun Junior leads the assist chart with 11.

Late drama has also been a defining feature. Enyimba have built a reputation for strong finishes, scoring 10 goals in the final 10 minutes of matches — more than any other side.

On the road, Abia Warriors have proven the most effective travellers, amassing 16 away points. At the same time, the league overall has seen 39 away victories, suggesting a gradual shift from the traditional dominance of home teams.

The season has also produced moments of high drama, none more so than the eight-goal thriller between Wikki Tourists and Katsina United, which ended 4-4 — the highest-scoring match so far.

Early intensity has been another hallmark, with Nasarawa United leading the way in fast starts, scoring seven goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches — the most in the league.

Meanwhile, Bendel Insurance and Rangers have set the pace in first-half dominance, each scoring 24 goals before the break — a statistic that reflects tactical sharpness and early control in matches.

As the campaign heads toward its climax, these numbers offer more than just statistical insight — they frame a season defined by emerging contenders, tactical battles, and shifting dynamics.

With four matchweeks remaining, the race for glory and survival is poised for a thrilling conclusion, where consistency, discipline and perhaps a touch of late drama will ultimately determine who lifts the trophy and who falls by the wayside.

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