Experts weigh in on NPFL title and relegation run-in

It has been touted as the most competitive league football in Africa, if not in the world. A league that no position (winner or relegated teams) can be safely projected until the final whistle across the ten venues on the last matchday.

It’s one matchday to go and the suspense heightened last weekend when results tore form books. Before last weekend, Rangers International went to Yenagoa and secured a stunning result that swung the title race in favour of the Coal City club. That result must have stung Rivers United after they had thrashed Abia Warriors 3-0 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

While Rangers got the better of Bendel Insurance at the Cathedral, Rivers United in far away Bauchi, clawed back twice to snatch all three points in a 3-2 win. The two results mean there will be trophy presentation preparations in Lagos, where Rangers visit Ikorodu City and in Port Harcourt where Rivers United hosts Katsina United.

This scenario, including the struggle to avoid relegation has stirred up excitement and animated conversations among some of the most intelligent segment of the NPFL fandom.

They are staking their years of football analysis in making data-based projections to make the call for the title and relegation races.

Lagos-based sports journalist, Toyin Ibitoye, Ibadan-based sports lawyer, Jubril Mohammed and Canada-based medical doctor, Nosa Iyagbaye, have told npfl.com.ng how they project the season to end.

Iyagbaye, popularly called, The Anchorman hasn’t taken his eyes off the NPFL ever since he left his television sports show at ITV, Benin, Edo State for life overseas.

He thinks but didn’t say it with his chest out that Rivers United are more favoured to win the title they surrendered to Remo Stars last season.

The Anchorman sees Ikorodu City’s quest for a continental ticket the obstacle to Rangers mounting the podium.

“Ikorodu City wants to claim the third position to play in the CAF Confederation Cup by beating Rangers so as to topple Shooting Stars, playing away at Niger Tornadoes”, he argued.

On the chances of Rivers United, he was emphatic that “Rivers United would likely slaughter Katsina United to guarantee top finish except Rangers re-enacts the Yenagoa performance.”

Ibitoye, a writer and television presenter and founder of Ibitoye TV, sees Rangers getting a win against Ikorodu City in Lagos.

His projection is that, “Rangers will get an away win in Lagos against Ikorodu City and will become the NPFL champions for the season.

“Rivers United will beat Katsina United in Port Harcourt to seal the second position and their ticket to the CAF Champions League next season.”

Ibitoye also gives the third place continental ticket to Shooting Stars as he predicts that, “3SC will finish in third place to pick the CAF Confederation Cup slot available from the league.”

Sports lawyer and ardent Shooting Stars fan, Mohammed forecasts that Rivers United would be champions.

“I see Rivers United winning the title. There’s no way Rivers United will not win her last match at home. Rangers will find it difficult to defeat Ikorodu City in Lagos because Ikorodu City is desperate to qualify for the CAF competition,” he submitted.

At the other business end of the log are over six clubs from which another two are possible candidates to join Wikki Tourists and Bayelsa United out of the NPFL.

Ibitoye states categorically that Niger Tornadoes are favoured to retain a place in the top flight next season. In addition, he also predicts a win for Warri Wolves over Abia Warriors and a stay in the NPFL.

It’s for Remo Stars that he has made a daring forecast, picking them for a win in Benin to stay afloat the drop zone.

While he also projects that Kun Khalifat FC would win their last home game in Owerri, he is convinced that either of Enyimba or El-Kanemi Warriors are condemned for relegation. This is not difficult to conjecture as the two endangered clubs are playing each other in Aba.

“One of Enyimba and El-Kanemi will go down at the end of Matchday 38….their clash in Aba is a ‘win or bust’ encounter. A winner takes all battle”, Ibitoye declared

Barrister Mohammed is not wavering on the faith of El-Kanemi as he rules that, “El-Kanemi will go down with Bayelsa United”. He also disagrees that Rangers will claw a win in Lagos, and predicted that “Ikorodu City will pick the CAF Confederation Cup slot”.

A common ground in the projections by the three NPFL keen watchers is that Remo Stars, Enyimba, Kun Khalifat FC, Kwara United, El-Kanemi, Barau FC, Plateau United, Kano Pillars are all endangered from which two must drop.

In his summation, The Anchorman said: “In short, it is war that we want to witness on the 24th of May 2026 in the nation’s top football stage as the round leather object will burst across these sensitive venues.”

And in rounding up, Ibitoye concluded that “The NPFL25/26 season is one of the most competitive football seasons ever witnessed in world football.”

Where will you be on May 24? Just drive or hop on a ride to an NPFL stadium near you.