NPFL: MFM become first team to suffer relegation as Remo Stars pick vital points

Two distinct facts have been established in the Nigeria Professional Football League campaign for the 2021/22 season – the winners and the first team to suffer the drop

Rivers United were declared champions of the league after week 35 and have won the league title for the first time.

Recall the Port Harcourt-based team are a collapse of Rivers State’s government-owned teams, Sharks FC and Dolphin FC in 2016.

 

MFM become the first to ‘bite the dust’

Barely a week after Rivers’ celebrations came into full swing, MFM’s capitulation was confirmed.

The Olukoya Boys were a surprise entrance into the league in their first few years, as they played breathtaking football under Fidelis Ilechukwu at the time.

With talented players like Sikiru Olatunbosun, Musa Newman, Chukwuka Onuwa and Stephen Odey back in the day, MFM surprised everyone with their grand entrance in 2015.

The team laboured to stay afloat after making the continent in their earliest days in the league. They, however, now have their relegation stamped from the top flight after losing to Niger Tornadoes 1-2 at home in Ijebu Ode.

MFM are the first team to have their relegation confirmed from the league this season with Katsina United, Dakkada United and Heartland all currently battling the drop in the relegation zone.

The NNL beckons as the only Lagos team in the top flight heads to the murkier waters of the second division.

Plateau United stay among the big boys

While it was a gloomy Sunday in Lagos, Jos had more to cheer about as Plateau United’s continental status was sealed and secured for the next season.

League winners the last term, the Jos-based team stamped their authority as one of the best and most consistent teams in the NPFL at the moment.

Plateau United will now join Rivers United to represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League next season after sealing their second-place position. Both teams chased the title for a long period before Rivers outdid their fiercest rivals this season.

Sikiru Alimi: Pushing Remo Stars’ once-lofty and now-possible ambition

When Alimi was signed during the mid-season, only a few people had doubts as to what he could bring to the team.

He’s a known component to players in the NPFL and has always shown how dangerous he is in front of goal.

Since signing the former Lobi Stars man, Gbenga Ogunbote’s Remo Stars have seen their chances of picking a one-time lofty continental slot now very possible. Alimi has scored eight times in his last 14 league games.

Currently sitting third on the log, just a point above Kwara United who also seek a continental slot, the race is going to the wire. The Afonja Warriors defeated Nasarawa United 3-0 on Sunday while Alimi helped Remo overcome Enyimba 1-0 in Ikenne with Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro in attendance.

Remo Stars look to have their fate in their hands as they hold an advantage in the race to a CAF Confederations Cup slot at the end of the season.

Enyimba and Rangers International are however lurking and waiting for potential slip-ups and expect to pounce when they find one.

A stocked and stacked relegation battle

From 11th-placed Nasarawa United down to 19th-placed Dakkada United, the drop is not impossible for any team and safety is yet to be guaranteed.

There are still six vital points to play for to avoid joining MFM in the drop.

Nasarawa have 47 points, just two points above the drop zone with two games to the end of the season. Shooting Stars also did themselves a world of good by battling from a two-goal deficit to earn a draw against Rangers.

The point has ensured they’re afloat and not in the relegation zone at the moment.

All nine teams whose fate are yet to be decided in the lower half of the league are potential relegation candidates based on how they handle their final games of the season.