The first half of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season has officially wrapped up, leaving fans with plenty of drama to digest over the festive break. Rivers United has emerged as the “Halfway Champions,” securing a comfortable lead at the summit of the table.
Matchday 19 Highlights
The final round of the first stanza saw some heavyweights flex their muscles while others stumbled:
Rivers United 1–0 Rangers International: A second-half header from Boluwaji Sholumade was enough for the “Pride of Rivers” to edge out the Flying Antelopes in Port Harcourt.
Enyimba FC 3–0 Shooting Stars: The People’s Elephant dominated the South-West derby in Aba, with goals from Ufere, Ezekiel, and Michael silencing the Oluyole Warriors.
Ikorodu City 1–0 Remo Stars: In a shocking “Oga Boys” masterclass, newcomer Ikorodu City took down the defending champions, Remo Stars, thanks to a thunderous strike from Odinaka Alfred.
Kano Pillars 3–0 Nasarawa United: Sai Masu Gida made a triumphant return to Kano, dismantling the Solid Miners with a clinical performance.
The NPFL Standings (Top 5)
As the league enters a two-week hiatus, here is how the top of the table looks:
Pos Team Pld GD Pts
1 Rivers United 19 +6 37
2 Abia Warriors 19 +5 33
3 Ikorodu City 19 +8 32
4 Nasarawa United 19 +4 32
5 Niger Tornadoes 19 +9 29
The league is currently on a mid-season break and is scheduled to resume on January 14, 2026.
Transfer Window: The mid-season transfer window officially opens on January 1, 2026, allowing clubs to bolster their squads for the final push.
Relegation Battle: At the other end of the table, Kun Khalifat, Plateau United, and Kano Pillars (despite their recent win) remain in a desperate fight to climb out of the bottom four.
