By George Akpayen
After 370 matches played in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) this season, we look back at the numbers that have made this term thick. Here is a quick recap of which team and individuals have been involved in the highs and lows of the campaign.
5 – Kano Pillars winger Yusuf Abdullahi, at the moment, is the only player to score more than three goals in a single match this season. Abdullahi scored all five goals in his team’s 5-2 win at Gombe United on Matchday 11.
6 – Six players have scored hattricks this season. They are Robert Mizo (Bayelsa United; left to go abroad at some point), Yusuf Abdullahi (Kano Pillars), Albert Hillary (Plateau United), Nyima Nwagua (Rivers United), Silas Nenrot (Plateau United), Ubong Friday (Akwa United) and Godwin Obaje (Plateau United).
7 – Remo Stars have been issued the most red cards this season. They have been given seven red cards, one more than outgoing champions Enyimba.
8 – Rangers have emerged champions of this season with one matchday to go. It is their eighth title in the history of the NPFL.
9 – Doma United, on the brink of being relegated, enjoyed the longest run of clean sheets, three more than Rangers during the season.
10 – Champions Rangers have the longest undefeated run this season, avoiding defeat in 10 matches, one more than Doma United.
11 – Relegated Heartland hold the longest run without a win this season. They went 11 matches without a win, one more than Doma United and Gombe United with 10 games without a win.
11 – Plateau United’s Silas Nenrot holds the record of scoring the fastest hattrick so far this season. The attacking winger netted three goals in the space of 11 minutes against Gombe United in their 4-0 win over Gombe United on Matchday 25.
16 – Enyimba striker Victor Mbaoma is the leading scorer after Matchday 37. He has scored 16 goals.
17 – The fast goal of this season was scored by Wasiu Alalade as his team, Kwara United edged past Remo Stars 3-2. His goal came in 16:18 seconds after kickoff.
20 – The total number of penalties missed or saved this season.
29 – We have witnessed 29 away win this season from 370 matches played so far.
33 – Matchweek 29 has accounted for the most goals in a single matchday, one more than Matchweek 37.
49 – There have been 49 red cards this season.
55 – Rangers and Niger Tornadoes are the sides with lowest bookings ahead of the final matchday. They both have 55 yellow cards each.
70 – Seventy penalties have been converted so far this season.
76 – Bottom-placed Gombe United, who are already relegated, have conceded the most goals this season. They have shipped in 76 goals in total.
86 – The NPFL have had 86 matches end in draws this season.
92 – Remo Stars racked up the most yellow cards during the season. They have been issued 92 yellow cards at the moment.
822 – After Matchweek 37, this is the number of goals scored so far.
1,409 – This represents the number of yellow cards issued this season with one matchday to go.