The Matchday 19 of the NPFL ended on the last day of 2024 to mark the end of the year with the end of the first stanza of the league.
Read Also: Breaking News: John Ojeleye Achieves FIFA International Referee Status
We look at the summary of events across the ten centers of the federation as we present the top five things to know in the NPFL after Matchday 19.
Eguma, Ideye In, No Changes in Result Yet For Enyimba
It was an eventful week for Enyimba FC of Aba, coach Yemi Olanrewaju was replaced by Stanley Eguma while former Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye unveiled.
Enough preparation for the team to return to winning ways as Bendel Insurance comes to the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, but after ninety minutes the ended goalless.
Same result, same performance by the host as they continue their poor form in front of goals despite their total dominance of the match .
Not even a cameo appearance from Brown Ideye could save them as they do not draw their night game of the season.
The result is good for Bendel Insurance to end the year and the first stanza off the relegation zone as they continue their recovery after the resignation of coach Monday Odigie.
As for Enyimba, the match saw a return to Enyimba for coach Stanley Eguma who was an assistant to Okey Emordi of the Africa current set of 2004.
Brown Ideye, 37, also returned to the NPFL, a league he left at age 20 for greener pastures.
Remo Stars Emerge As First Stanza Winner
Remo Stars continue to show why they are title contenders with another wonderful performance at home against hard fighting Akwa United.
Goals from Ibrahim Shuaibu in the third minute from the penalty spot set the tone for another routing win for Remo Stars but an equaliser from Kabir Osoba for Akwa United ensured parity at half time, which ended seven consecutive clean sheets for Remo Stars in at Ikenne.
The match dragged to the 82 minutes before Raymond Tochukwu Michael could find a winner via a direct free kick which gave the host the three points on the day.
Rivers United’s failure to defeat Plateau United at home paved the way for Remo Stars to end the year as the league leader.
They now open up a two point gap ahead of Rivers United in second position, both in 36 and 34 points respectively after 19 matches played in the first stanza of the league.
Perfect December For Shooting Stars
It was a roller coaster, December for Shooting Stars of Ibadan as they made it five wins in five matches with no goals conceded, cleaning a total of 15 points with five goals.
They secured the last three points of the year against Kwara United on Matchday 19 and the pushed closer to Rivers United as only one points separated the two sides on number 2 and 3 while the Ibadan Stars are just three points behind Remo Stars after the conclusion of the first stanza.
They are in the title race and a strong contender as no team has been able to record higher points than Shooting Stars going by the results of the last ten matches leading to the end of the year.
Abia Warriors, Rangers Swell Away wins in 2024
Matchday 19 of the 2024/2025 NPFL saw two away victories as Enugu Rangers and Abia Warriors scooped three points away from home, Rangers defeated Niger Tornadoes by 1-0 while Abia Warriors also secured same result away in Bayelsa United.
These two increased the number of away wins in the first stanza from 19 before Matchday 19 to 21 after the Matchday.
Coaches Stole The Headlines In 3 Drawn Matches
The Matchday saw three drawn matches as team struggles for points and after the matches, it was the coaches that stole the headlines.
The first draw of the week, was recorded between Lobi Stars and Heartland in Lafia but it was a purported resignation of Lobi Stars coach, Daniel Amokachi that rented the social media but the rumour was quickly quashed by official statement from Lobi Stars.
Rivers United and Plateau United also recorded a 1-1 draw which saw both coaches of the team, Finidi George of Rivers United and Mbwas Magnut of Plateau United sent off for dissent to underline Feistiness of the match especially from the bench as the two teams come all out for maximum points which ended in a share of the spoil.
The last match drawn came in the last match of the year, between Enyimba and Bendel Insurance.
The return of Enyimba head coach Stanley Eguma after 213 days he left Rivers United was hight celebrated but it was coach of Bendel Insurance,
Greg Ikhenoba , who have the last laugh after the Benin Arsenal battles to a goalless draw, which pulled out Bendel Insurance out of the relegation zone at the end of the first stanza.
Best Of The Rest ; Super Eagles B Returns To CHAN
The week saw the best of players in the NPFL represented Nigeria well in the. CHAN qualifier against arch rival Ghana as the Super Eagles B, defeated Black Galaxies of Ghana with a convincing 3-1 victory at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Quick first half goals from Sodiq Ismail in the 19th minute, Nduka Junior in the 21st minute and Isaac Saviour in the 25th quickly settled the match before the half hour mark as Ghana secured a consolation from the boot of Stephen Amankuna in the 73rd minute.
It was a sweet victory for the NPFL and for Nigerian coaches as Remo Stars coach Ogunmodede and Enugu Rangers coach Fidelis Ilechukwu return Nigeria to the CHAN which the 8th edition will take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from February 1-28 2025.
All The Results of Matchday 19 at a Glance
Bayelsa United 0-1 Abia Warriors
Lobi Stars 0-0 Heartland
Niger Tornadoes 0-1 Rangers
Elkanemi Warriors 1-0 Kano Pillars
Katsina United 1-0 Nasarawa United
Ikorodu City 2-1 Sunshine Stars
3SC 1-0 Kwara United
Remo Stars 2-1 Akwa United
Rivers United 1-1 Plateau United
Enyimba 0-0 Bendel Insurance
