2025-26 NPFL: Remo Stars, 3 Others Relegated, 3SC, 2 Others Qualify For Continental

The 2025-2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season ended on Sunday, May 24, with drama at both ends of the table as Enugu Rangers clinched a record-equalling ninth league title, while Remo Stars suffered a shocking relegation just a year after lifting the trophy.

Naija News reports that Enugu Rangers captain Nwobodo Chidiebere emerged the hero for the Flying Antelopes, scoring twice in a tense 2-1 win over Ikorodu City on the final day to secure the title.

The victory took Rangers to 68 points from 38 matches, one ahead of Rivers United, who defeated Katsina United 3-0 but fell short in the title race.

Rangers’ latest triumph saw them draw level with Enyimba on nine NPFL crowns, adding to titles won in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2016 and 2024.

Both Rangers and Rivers United had already sealed Nigeria’s two CAF Champions League spots before the final round after winning their Matchday 37 fixtures.

At the other end of the table, Remo Stars’ fairytale quickly turned sour.

The Ikenne club, champions for the first time last season, were held to a 1-1 draw by Bendel Insurance in Benin City and paid heavily for the dropped points.

Victor Mbaoma fired Remo Stars ahead just before halftime with his 14th goal of the campaign, but Chijioke Akuneto struck deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for the hosts.

That result left Remo Stars’ survival hopes hanging on the outcome of Kun Khalifat’s clash with already relegated Wikki Tourists.

Played after a delay caused by heavy rain, Kun Khalifat defeated Wikki Tourists 3-1 to secure safety and condemn Remo Stars to relegation.

Jonathan Mairiga opened the scoring before Uchechukwu Onuoha equalised for the home side. Lekan Gabriel restored the lead and Onuoha later completed his brace to seal the comeback victory.

Remo Stars now drop into the Nigeria National League (NNL) alongside El-Kanemi Warriors, Bayelsa United and Wikki Tourists.

In Ibadan, Shooting Stars sealed a return to continental football after a 27-year absence, despite losing 1-0 away to Niger Tornadoes.

3SC finished third with 60 points, two ahead of Ikorodu City, to clinch a CAF Confederation Cup ticket for the first time since featuring in the CAF Champions League in 1999.

The Oluyole Warriors’ resurgence followed a major restructuring by the Oyo State Government before the season, including the appointments of Taiwo Lekan-Salami as executive chairman, Bunmi Fadayomi as chief operating officer and Tobi Adepoju as sporting director.

Elsewhere on the final day, Bayelsa United hammered Kwara United 4-0, Plateau United defeated Kano Pillars 1-0 in Jos, while Enyimba defeated El-Kanemi Warriors 3-0 to confirm the Maiduguri side’s relegation.

Warri Wolves also survived the drop after beating Abia Warriors 2-1 at home, while Barau FC wrapped up their season with a commanding 3-0 victory over Nasarawa United in Kano.

Joseph Atule opened the scoring, and Anthony and Adamu Hussain added further goals to complete the rout of the Solid Miners.

The final continental ticket from Nigeria will now be decided through the President’s Federation Cup, with both Shooting Stars and Ikorodu City still in the race as the competition heads into the Round of 32.

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