2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL saw ten matches of Matchday 23 over the weekend.
We bring you this week’s edition of the top five things to know in the NPFL with all the juicy details of the actions across the match centeres on Matchday 23 of the NPFL.
Boboye Records First Win With Akwa United On His Second Coming
Coach Kennedy Boboye finally recorded his first win for Akwa United, on his second coming as the club’s coach after taking over the job from coach Babaganaru on late December, 2024.
Akwa United FC has been struggling in the league, and finally got their first win of 2025 by defeating Enyimba of Aba by 2-1 on Sunday evening at the Gods will Akpabio Stadium Uyo courtesy of Uche Sabastine late clincher in the 85th minute.
Jacob Ogunleye had earlier given the host the lead in the 25th minute before Isah Mohammed equalised for the Aba Elephants in the 36th minute.
The three points will kick start Akwa United FC journey out of relegation zone as they now have 23 points in 23 matches, at number 18, two points behind Bendel Insurance in 16th position and a point behind Sunshine Stars occupying the 17th position.
Rivers United Wins First Game in 2025
It’s a season of first win of the year, as Rivers United picked their victory of the year on Sunday after a pulsating 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars at the Adokie Amasimaka stadium in Port Harcourt.
A huge relief for coach Finidi George who has been under the pressure of living up to the early season standard set by the team.
Notching their 10th victory of the season, they now have 38 points, seated in third position.
Though they keep their title ambition alive, they are still ten points behind the table topper, Remo Stars which makes the title ambition a tall order, a reflection of their lost ground in the title race.
Remo Stars, Shooting Stars Shine But Sunshine Stars Dimmed
It was a mixed bag of fortunes for South West Stars teams, as Remo Stars and Shooting Stars got favorable results while , Sunshines Stars were dimmed on Matchday 23.
Remo Stars are not showing any sign of slowing down in the title race after another victory in 2025.
Remo Stars made it four win out of four in 2025 with 2-1 defeat of Kano Pillars on Saturday to keep their feet firmly on the title race.
Meanwhile, Shooting Stars of Ibadan is keeping the pressure on the Ikenne Stars after they recorded maximum three points in Sunday on Sunday as they keep the Ikenne Stars on sight in the title chase.
Shooting Stars have a chance to reduce the deficit to five points on Wednesday against Kwara United in the Matchday 20 outstanding that will be played at the Kwara Sports Complex Ilorin.
A win for the Oluyole Warriors could push the title race to the wire and set up a close contest between Gbenga Ogunbote, a former coach to Remo Stars who handed over to Daniel Ogunmodede after helping Remo Stars to secure a champions league spot in 2023.
While the two Southwest Stars are doing well, it wasn’t rosy for Sunshine Stars another south western Nigeria based team.
Sunshine Stars were bashed 3-0 by Abia Warriors on Sunday, as their 2025 woes continue with four losses in their five outing, struggling for survival in the relegation waters.
The team now has 13 losses in the season, the highest number of defeat by any team in the league this season after 23 matches.
Kano Pillars 2025 Struggle Continues
Kano Pillars lost to Remo Stars by 2-1 on Saturday, to continue their poor runs since the beginning of the second stanza of the league.
The Kano based team have manged only one victor in the last five recording back to back loses on away ground and a draw at home against Bayelsa United.
The poor form which led to the suspension of coach Usman Abdallah didn’t suffice even with assistant coach Yaro Yaro in charge of the team as evident on Matchday 23 in Ikenne.
Barren Bayelsa As 18 goals Were in 9 Centres
Matchday 23 also saw a flurry of goals as all the matches saw at least a goal scored apart from Yenegoa, Bayelsa State at the Season Siasia Stadium where Rangers of Enugu held Bayelsa United to a barren draw.
A total of 18 goals were scored in other nine match centeres, averaging two goals per match while the Weekend produced a total of 1.8 goals per centre on the average.
Umuahia, Ikenne, Uyo and Lagos saw three goals each, two goals were scored in Minna, while Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri and Katsina saw a goal each.
Aside Rangers and Bayelsa who mange a point without scoring any goal, Sunshine Stars, Lobi Stars, Bendel Insurance, Nasarawa United and Heartland all ended the Matchday with no goal, and no point.
Matchday 23 Results At A Glance
Remo Stars 2-1 Kano Pillars
Abia Warriors 3-0 Sunshine Stars
Ikorodu City 2-1 Kwara United
Akwa United 2-1 Enyimba
Rivers United 1-0 Lobi Stars
Katsina United 1-0 Heartland
Elkanemi Warriors 1-0 Nasarawa United
Shooting Stars 1-0 Bendel Insurance
Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Plateau United
Bayelsa United 0-0 Rangers International
