2024 marked the 53rd year of operation for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), which began as the Nigerian Football League in 1972. Despite over five decades of existence, the league still struggles with fundamental issues that should, ideally, no longer bother a football body well past its nascent stage.

Inadequate funding, ineffective fan management and stadium security, poor infrastructure, unsatisfactory refereeing standards, poor talent retention, ownership and governance issues and subpar digital and media coverage are just a few of the persistent problems plaguing the league, with little to no signs of imminent resolution.

One could easily compile an encyclopedia on the challenges confronting the NPFL. However, as with most issues in Nigeria, experts consistently analyse these problems and proffer solutions that the administrators are either turning a blind eye to or executing at a snail’s speed.

Amid the cautious optimism of Nigerian football fans for the NPFL’s growth, Bounce Sports highlights the progress (within the league’s context) in 2024, setting the stage for a hopefully better 2025.

Top Positives From the NPFL in 2024

Record-Breaking Attendances

Despite Nigerians’ widespread preference for football, attendances at NPFL match venues rarely see impressive numbers. Only significant derby clashes occasionally witness substantial turnouts, while most other match venues record poor turnouts.

This trend persisted in 2024 but saw more history-making instances than in recent years. The final Oriental Derby of the 2023/24 season between eventual champions Rangers International and Enyimba in June 2024 drew over 40,000 attendees to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. Various reports also claimed it was the highest number of away fans in a decade, although fans’ encroachment and violence marred the match’s climax. 

An even more impressive feat occurred in November when about 25,000 spectators filled the General Sani Abacha Stadium for Kano Pillars’ first fixture at their home ground in the 2024/25 season. Despite the heated clash ending in a 2-2 draw against Heartland FC, there were no instances of fan misconduct.

The NPFL’s flawed ticketing and record-keeping structures obscure exact figures, but these 2024 instances marked the largest turnouts witnessed in years. The closest and most recent was in October 2023, when over 16,000 fans attended the Northwest Derby clash between Kano Pillars and Katsina United.

Refereeing (Tech) Upgrades

Football globally has long embraced cutting-edge technology like goal-line technology and Video Assistant Referees (VAR) to ensure near-accurate officiating decisions. There has been a gradual adoption of such advances in Africa’s top tournaments, but the NPFL seems farther than it is closer to adopting such.

In 2024, however, the league took a notable step forward in refereeing improvements.

Ahead of the 2024/25 season, referee communication aids commonly used in leagues like the English Premier League since 1999, were deployed in the NPFL. This marked a significant effort to minimise the officiating errors that have plagued the league for years.

European Expertise Collaboration

In July 2024, the NPFL joined Sevilla’s “World Club Alliance Program” to elevate Nigerian football through coach training and youth player development.

The partnership with the Spanish giant, according to NPFL Chairman Gbenga Ogunleye, is “a win-win arrangement for everyone in the NPFL.

Sevilla, currently home to Super Eagles forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Ejuke, aims to harness promising talent across Nigeria’s youth leagues while advancing coaching development for local managers to elevate the country’s football to global standards.

Super Eagles’ Confluence

The NPFL in 2024 witnessed an unprecedented influx of Super Eagles legends, both as players and coaches. 1994 AFCON winner, Finidi George was the first of these notable returns.

Fresh off his acrimonious exit as Super Eagles manager, Rivers United appointed George as their head coach ahead of the 2024/25 season. The former Ajax and Real Betis winger — who led Enyimba to their ninth NPFL title in 2023 —  paved the way for fellow ’94 Eagles legends Emmanuel Amuneke and Daniel Amokachi to follow suit.

Amuneke also joined Heartland FC of Owerri before the season commenced, while Amokachi assumed duties at Lobi Stars after Matchday 5 in October. Their fortunes have, however, varied drastically. While George remains in the title race with Rivers United, Amuneke is battling to steer Heartland out of relegation waters, and Amokachi resigned following his inability to save Lobi Stars from the relegation struggle.

On the players’ front, three Super Eagles stalwarts returned to the NPFL in 2024. Captain Ahmed Musa headlined the comebacks, rejoining his boyhood club, Kano Pillars, for a third stint. Defender Shehu Abdullahi followed suit as a free agent to Pillars, while Brown Ideye joined Enyimba, almost two decades after his stint with the Ocean Boys during the 2006/07 season.

These players bring invaluable international experience from top-flight leagues worldwide, which has begun to reflect on the pitch. Musa, for instance, has tallied six goals and two assists in 12 appearances for Sai Masu Gida. Similarly, Ideye has scored two goals in four substitute appearances for the People’s Elephants across all competitions. 

Aside from concerns that these homecomings may further worsen the NPFL’s image as a springboard for players out of demand in the global market, the return of Super Eagles players to Nigeria’s top-flight league was a positive highlight of 2024.