NPFL22 mid-season report as second stanza of season set to commence

After the conclusion of the first stanza of NPFL22, the teams are recharged and reshuffled ahead of the resumption of the 2021-22 league season.

Here are a couple of notable highlights from the first half of NPFL22:

League Leaders: Rivers United (42 points), Plateau United (41 points), Rangers International (34 points). Rivers United and Plateau United have engaged in an enthralling battle at the top of the league standings with only one point separating both sides. They have each lost only once so far in NPFL22. They are separated from the rest of the league by seven points at this stage.

Relegation Candidates: MFM currently occupies the bottom spot in the league, having picked up only 17 points from their opening 19 fixtures. They are joined at the foot of the table by Lobi Stars, Heartland and Niger Tornadoes. The race at the bottom of the table is tight, as only six points separate the teams in the relegation zone from the top half of the table.

Top Scorer: Rivers United hotshot Ishaq Rafiu Kayode leads the goalscoring charts with an impressive 11 goals scored in the first stanza of NPFL22. His teammate, Chijioke Akuneto, is in second place with nine goals to his name. Gombe United star Yusuf AbdulAzeez has scored eight goals in the league for the Savannah Scorpions.

Assist King: Abia Warriors striker and NPFL veteran Godwin Obaje has scored over 50 career goals in the league. This season, however, he has brought another facet of his play to the fore with his intelligent linking of play with his teammates. He leads the assist charts with six assists to his name.

Clean Sheets: Remo Stars goalkeeper Kayode Bankole is the king of clean sheets so far in NPFL22. He has kept 10 clean sheets for the Sky Blue Stars in 16 league appearances.

New Managers: Deji Ayeni (Akwa United), Baba Ganaru (Lobi Stars), Usman Abd’Allah (Katsina United).

The second stanza of NPFL22 promises to deliver a thrilling conclusion to the season with most of the teams prepared to deliver improved performances. The teams have dipped their hands into the transfer market and bolstered their squads, and we await the resumption of the league.