By George Akpayen
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is back for another season and there is no better way to begin the season with an opening day fixture involving the champions Remo Stars and last season’s runners-up Rivers United.
Both clubs come face-to-face in the opening game of the 54th season at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta on Friday and it is expected to be packed with action, drama and big moments.
The champions have temporarily settled for the stadium in Abeokuta as their home ground owing to ongoing renovation work at their Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne where they claimed their first NPFL title last term after finishing the previous two seasons in second place.
Rivers United lost ground in the title race last term and at a point were 10 points behind but this season, their head coach, Finidi George, have swooped in and bolstered his squad with a mix of experience and youth that has included the arrivals of goalkeepers Ani Ozoemena and John Noble as well as Nsi Effimi, Rivio Ayemwenre, Anthony Omaka, Seyi Oguntayo, Chinedu Sunday and Isaac Annor among others. The Port Harcourt club have also hooked Yemi Olanrewaju as Finidi’s assistant to further strengthen their coaching staff.
The champions, on the other hand, have brought in Malian duo of Chaka Coulibaly and Adama Goita to underscore their ambition to keep their title for another season. Despite winning the title with three games to spare last season, the Sky Blue Stars head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, will also have new additions in his ranks including Victor Mbaoma, who returns to the club for a third time, experienced goalkeeper Kolimba Alladoum and Chigozie Chilekwu.
HEAD-TO-HEAD OF THE TOP-TWO
In spite of Remo Stars claiming the title last season, Rivers United go into this fixtures with the edge in past head-to-head meetings. Last season, Finidi’s men took four points off the champions. And Rivers United have lost just once in their last 11 meetings in the NPFL. Both sides have met in opening day fixtures and Rivers United have came out tops on both occasions at home – winning 2-0 in 2023/14 season and 1-0 in the 2019 campaign.
Interestingly, Rivers United further have the edge of having maintained an unbeaten start to their campaigns in the past 12 seasons since a 1-0 defeat to Akwa United on the opening day on March 10, 2013. The Sky Blue Stars have enjoyed quite a decent start in three of their last four seasons except for when they lost in Port Harcourt to Rivers United 0-2 to goals from Alex Oyowah and Andy Okpe. Irrespective of how things pan out in this opening fixture, it will not determine the season’s outcome as there will still be 37 matchdays to play for.
NEWCOMERS FACE STERN TESTS
As much as most of the focus will be on the signature fixture of Matchweek 1, the new boys will not be left out of the talking point. Barau FC and Kun Khalifat FC are the latest clubs that will have their first experience in the top-flight after winning promotion from the second tier, the Nigeria National League (NNL), alongside Warri Wolves and Wikki Tourists, who are making returns to the division.
Barau FC will play hosts to nine-time champions, Enyimba, at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday. The newcomers have Ladan Bosso as head coach, who joined in the off-seaso transfer window. His presence has seen the arrivals of a list of experienced campaigners in goalkeeper Yusuf Muhammed, Sunday Anthony, Michael Enaruna, Nura Abdulbari, Samuel Mathias, Mike Zaruma, Kabiru Abdullahi, Emmanuel Okoko Jr, Hillary Ekawu and Ghanaian Abraham Nana Kwame.
The Maliya Boys will not be a stroll in the park for Enyimba, who have been quiet about their activities in the transfer window after cutting loose 22 players from last season. The People’s Elephant finished sixth last season and this time, the club’s head coach, Stanley Eguma, who joined them in December 2024, has set himself a personal target of either to win the title or get a continental place.
“Enyimba as team have a target, and as a coach, an ambitious one at that, I equally have a target. And my target should be to win the league or pick a continental ticket, at worst,” Eguma told his club’s media.
The trip to Kano to face Barau FC will give an insight on how Eguma and his men will navigate this season after a stop-start performance last term that saw them finish 16 points behind eventual winners, Remo Stars.
The other newcomers, Kun Khalifat FC, will make a two-hour plus trip from their Owerri base to Enugu, where they will face Rangers International in their first-ever NPFL game. The Flying Antelopes failed to defend their title last season by finishing a distant 10th but have reinforced for this campaign with the signings of Waheed Adebayo, Ifeanyi Assurance, Daniel Egon Eni, Chidozie Iwundu, Ejike Ikwu, Monday Daniel, Jerry Alex, Chinedu Onah and Chidiebere Nwobodo, wo returned to the club after a stint abroad.
Kun Khalifat had a mixed outcome in pre-season matches as after losing to Bayelsa United (0-1), Bendel Insurance (0-4) while they held off Heartland (1-1) and stunned Enyimba 3-1. The newly-promoted side might just have shown in their pre-season that they will take the Southeast Derby with Rangers seriously having come off undefeated against established sides, Enyimba and Heartland.
THE BIG HITTERS & OLD GUARDS
There will also be a mix of the big boys and former champions waiting to start off their campaign on a flyer. Kano Pillars, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Bendel Insurance, Plateau United and current President Federation Cup will have their hands full when they face Abia Warriors, Bayelsa United, El-Kanemi Warriors, Wikki Tourists, and Ikorodu City respectively on Matchday 1.
However, the opening day will be a matter of comes off the blocks fastest or who blinks first. Will any of the newcomers find a way to upset one of the old guards, or will things stay true to their odds? All matches kick off 4pm Nigerian time.
MATCHDAY 1 FIXTURES
Friday, August 22, 2025
Remo Stars v Rivers United
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Abia Warriors v Kano Pillars
Wikki Tourists v Plateau United
Katsina United v Warri Wolves
Rangers vs Kun Khalifa FC
Kwara Utd v Ikorodu City
El-Kanemi Warriors v Bendel Insurance
3SC v Bayelsa United
Barau FC v Enyimba
Niger Tornadoes v Nasarawa United