Six Days to Go: What to Expect as the 2024/2025 NPFL Second Stanza Beckons
Six days from today, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will resume its 2024/2025 season after a three-week mid-season break. In this article, SportsRation’s Nsikakabasi Akpan presents upcoming fixtures and review of the standings as fans prepare for the NPFL second stanza.
WHEN WILL THE NPFL SECOND STANZA BEGIN
The league’s second stanza is set to kick off on January 25, 2025, with clubs eager to continue their campaigns and battle for supremacy. The break, which commenced on January 6, 2025, also saw the opening of the transfer window, allowing clubs to make moves to bolster their squads ahead of the second half of the season.
As the first half concluded, Remo Stars sit at the top of the league table with an impressive 36 points, two points clear of second-placed Rivers United. This creates the perfect backdrop for an intense title race, with teams such as Shooting Stars, Rangers International, and El Kanemi also positioning themselves for a strong finish.
NPFL Round 20 Fixtures (January 25 – 27, 2025)
The second half of the season will begin with several intriguing matchups:
- January 25, 2025:
- Abia Warriors vs. Bayelsa United
- Kwara United vs. Shooting Stars
- Nasarawa United vs. Katsina United
- Rangers International vs. Niger Tornadoes
- Sunshine Stars vs. Ikorodu City
- January 26, 2025:
- Kano Pillars vs. El Kanemi
- Akwa United vs. Remo Stars
- Heartland vs. Lobi Stars
- Plateau United vs. Rivers United
- January 27, 2025:
- Bendel vs. Enyimba
NPFL Round 21 Fixtures (January 29 – 30, 2025)
The fixtures continue with more action-packed encounters:
- January 29, 2025:
- Akwa United vs. Lobi Stars
- Bayelsa United vs. Sunshine Stars
- El Kanemi vs. Rangers International
- Ikorodu City vs. Kano Pillars
- Katsina United vs. Plateau United
- Niger Tornadoes vs. Kwara United
- Remo Stars vs. Abia Warriors
- Rivers United vs. Bendel
- Shooting Stars vs. Nasarawa United
- January 30, 2025:
- Enyimba vs. Heartland –
NPFL Round 22 Fixtures (February 1 – 3, 2025)
- February 1, 2025:
- Sunshine Stars vs. Remo Stars –
- February 2, 2025:
- Abia Warriors vs. Akwa United
- Bendel vs. Katsina United
- Heartland vs. Rivers United
- Kano Pillars vs. Bayelsa United
- Kwara United vs. El Kanemi
- Lobi Stars vs. Enyimba
- Plateau United vs. Shooting Stars
- Rangers International vs. Ikorodu City
- February 3, 2025:
- Nasarawa United vs. Niger Tornadoes
Review of the Standings
As the league enters its second stanza, Remo Stars lead the table with 36 points, having secured 11 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses in the first half. Their solid defense (23 goals conceded) has been one of their key strengths.
Rivers United, who are only two points behind with 34 points, have also shown great consistency, with 9 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses. The Port Harcourt side’s strong defense (11 goals conceded) has been key to their challenge for the title.
In third place, Shooting Stars have been in remarkable form, winning 10 matches and losing only 6, putting them just 3 points behind Rivers United. Their attacking style (18 goals scored) has made them a formidable force in the league.
Reigning NPFL champions, Rangers International (31 points) and El Kanemi (29 points) are also in the mix for the top spots. Both teams will look to improve on their performances as the season progresses.
At the lower end of the table, Nasarawa United (16 points), Lobi Stars (20 points), and Akwa United (19 points) are struggling to find consistency, and their focus will be on survival in the top division.
With the transfer market open and the second half of the season about to begin, the battle for the NPFL title is set to intensify, with clubs reinforcing their squads to mount a serious challenge.
