The 2018/19 abridged season of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) terminated last weekend with six teams making the play-offs and another eight relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL).
From Group A, Enugu Rangers, Enyimba and Lobi Stars are the three teams selected for the play-offs scheduled to take place from June 4 to June 12 at the Agege Stadium in Lagos. They will be joined by three other teams from Group B; Akwa Utd, Kano Pillars and Ifeanyi Ubah.
Incidentally, Kwara United despite securing the only away win in Group A on the final day of the season failed to beat the dreaded drop. The team was undone after failing to secure a win in about six matches starting from week 15. Injury to their star striker, Segun Alebiosu left the club struggling for goals on the road and also in front of their own crowd.
Had the team secured about six points from available 15 points in the matches where they dropped points prior to the win against Remo Stars, United would have escaped relegation by the whiskers.
Joining the Harmony Boys in the NNL from Group A are; Remo Stars, Niger Tornadoes and Insurance just as El Kanemi Warriors, Gombe Utd, Go Round FC and Yobe Desert Stars make up the number of relegated teams from Group B.
Now that Kwara United’s relegation has been officially confirmed, the team will need to start preparing for life in the lower division early. Whoever succeeds Bala Abubakar on the bench will need to make early and better recruitment. Let’s hope the new administration in the state under Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq give the club the needed support to return to the elite division at the end of the next campaign.
Meanwhile, in terms of statistics, Lobi Stars of Makurdi recorded the highest number of draws (11) while Rangers had the highest number of victories (12). Interestingly, Yobe Desert Stars suffered 15 defeats in 22 matches, which is the highest by any NPFL side across the two groups.
