NPFL Final Day: Ex-Barcelona man sinks with Heartland as Abia Warriors edge Ikorodu City to continental spot

The 2024–25 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season came to a dramatic close on Sunday, with triumph, heartbreak, and final-day surprises unfolding across the country.

Champions Remo Stars had little to play for but pride and ended their title-winning campaign with a sobering 3-0 defeat away to Bayelsa United — their heaviest loss of the season.

However, the Sky Blues had already secured the league title with two matches to spare, making the defeat a mere blemish on an otherwise historic season.

Finidi George’s Rivers United sealed second place with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nasarawa United, ensuring their return to the CAF Champions League.

Goals from Muyiwa Fehintola and Aniekeme Okon were enough to see off the visitors and wrap up a successful campaign for the former league champions.

One of the most thrilling fixtures of the day took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, where Ikorodu City edged Abia Warriors 3-2 in an entertaining five-goal contest.

But despite the loss, it was Abia Warriors who had the last laugh, finishing third on the NPFL table with 60 points — just one more than fourth-placed Ikorodu City — and securing Nigeria’s first CAF Confederation Cup slot.

NPFL Final Day: Ex-Barcelona man sinks with Heartland as Abia Warriors edge Ikorodu City to continental spot

At the opposite end of the table, the final relegation place loomed ominously over four teams heading into the final day — Katsina United, El Kanemi Warriors, Niger Tornadoes, and Heartland FC.

In the end, it was Heartland, managed by former Barcelona and Nigeria international Emmanuel Amunike, who suffered the drop.

Despite recording a 2-1 victory over already-relegated Akwa United, Heartland were condemned to the drop after all three of their relegation rivals won.

Katsina United edged Kwara United 1-0, El Kanemi Warriors defeated Sunshine Stars by the same scoreline, and Niger Tornadoes produced one of the day’s most remarkable comebacks.

After falling behind to a fourth-minute strike from Kano Pillars legend Rabiu Ali, the Tornadoes rallied to a thrilling 3-2 victory that ensured their survival.

Elsewhere, relegated Lobi Stars ended their underwhelming campaign with a 2-1 win over Bendel Insurance, while Shooting Stars romped to a 5-1 thrashing of arch-rivals Enugu Rangers — the biggest win of the final day.

The only away victory came at the Enyimba International Stadium, where 19-year-old Yusuf Abdullahi struck in the first half to give Plateau United a 1-0 win over former African champions Enyimba.

Nasarawa United’s Anas Yusuf finished as the league’s top scorer with 18 goals, followed by Rabiu Ali (13), while Shola Adelani of Ikorodu City and Sunday Megwo of Abia Warriors both netted 12 times.

Defensively, Rivers United ended the season with the meanest backline, conceding just 29 goals. In attack, NPFL debutants Ikorodu City were the most prolific, scoring 60 goals — 11 more than runners-up Remo Stars.