The 2023 season will see Bendel Insurance, Remo Stars, Enyimba, defending champions Rivers United, Lobi Stars and Sunshine Stars now proceed to a Super 6 playoff.
The 2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) regular season reached its crescendo on Sunday, with six teams securing their places in the Super 6 playoff, and four others, relegated to the second division.
The final day of the 2023 season saw Remo Stars, Enyimba and Sunshine Stars all secure needed results to join already qualified Bendel Insurance, Lobi Stars and defending champions Rivers United in the playoffs.
19:04 - 21.05.2023
NPFL: Enyimba, Remo Stars and Sunshine Stars complete Super 6 lineup
It's celebration time for Enyimba, Remo Stars who expectedly made it through to the NPFL Super 6, Sunshine Stars sneaked in while it was despair for the United teams and Warriors.
Meanwhile, Wikki Tourists completed the quad of teams to get relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL).
Key stats recorded on NPFL 2023 final matchday
- 1 - Enyimba recorded their first draw on the road this season (P9: W4, D1, L4). It is also their first goalless draw on the road since March 2022.
- 2 - Remo Stars finished second on the NPFL table (Group A) to record their highest final position in the Nigerian top-flight.
- 3 - Having bagged an equalizer in his team's 1-1 draw with Rangers, Rivers United's Ebube Duru scored three free kicks in the NPFL this season - the most by any player in the 2023 regular season.
- 3 - Right-back Sadiq Ismail made three assists in Remo Stars' 4-0 win over Kwara United on Sunday. He finished the regular season with six assists - four more than any other Remo Stars player.
- 4 - Remo Stars scored 4 goals in an NPFL match for the 2nd time in their history. It is the 1st time they scored 4 first-half goals in the NPFL.
- 4 - In comparison to the last two NPFL final matchdays (2021/22, 2020/21) which ended with 0 draws, the 2023 season ended with 4 draws, ranging from 0-0 to 2-2.
- 8 - With a 0-0 draw record in their meeting on Sunday, the away team have now failed to score in any of the last eight NPFL meetings between Shooting Stars and Enyimba.
- 18 - Bendel Insurance went unbeaten in the 2022/23 NPFL Regular season - P18: W8 D10.
- 18 - Having secured a surprise 2-0 win, Wikki Tourists ended Lobi Stars' 18 matches unbeaten run in home games in the NPFL (12 consecutive wins). The win, however, couldn't save them from relegation.
- 22 - At least 20 goals were recorded in the final MDs of each of the last 5 completed NPFL seasons, 22 were recorded on the final day of the 2023 regular season.
- 380 - A 90+3 minutes winner meant that Ekerette Udom's goal for Sunshine Stars against Dakkada is the last goal of the 2023 NPFL regular season.
Stats as provided by Opta Nigeria and Twitter/@Undisputed_Jsam.
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