The 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season kicked off with a mix of thrilling victories, hard-fought draws, and unexpected upsets, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and competitive campaign. Shooting Stars FC, playing in front of their home crowd at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bayelsa United. Kehinde Lawal’s 30th-minute header proved to be the difference, giving the visitors a valuable away win and handing new Bayelsa United coach, Monday Odigie, a victorious start to his tenure. Despite launching a series of attacks, Shooting Stars were unable to breach Bayelsa United’s defense, with goalkeeper Clinton Andy proving to be an insurmountable obstacle. This loss marked a frustrating beginning for Shooting Stars and their new head coach, Nurudeen Aweroro, who will be looking to quickly regroup and bounce back in their next fixture.
Elsewhere, returning teams Warri Wolves and Wikki Tourists enjoyed successful returns to the top flight, both securing 1-0 victories. Warri Wolves claimed a crucial away win against Katsina United, courtesy of Igbunnu Evwierhurhoma’s late strike in the 76th minute. Wikki Tourists, on the other hand, edged out Plateau United at home thanks to a first-half penalty converted by Luis Dadong just before the halftime whistle. These opening wins provide a positive boost for both clubs as they look to re-establish themselves in the NPFL. The victories demonstrate the competitive nature of the league and suggest that both Warri Wolves and Wikki Tourists are determined to make their mark this season.
Newly promoted Barau FC made an impressive debut, holding ten-man Enyimba to a goalless draw in Kano. This result highlights the potential of the newcomers and suggests they could be a force to be reckoned with this season. Kun Khalifat also celebrated their first point in the top flight, earning a hard-fought goalless draw against Rangers International in Enugu. These results indicate the competitive balance within the league and the ability of newly promoted teams to challenge established sides. The goalless draws demonstrated the defensive resilience of both Barau FC and Kun Khalifat, suggesting that they are well-prepared for the rigors of top-flight football.
In other matches, El-Kanemi Warriors recorded a convincing 2-0 victory over Bendel Insurance in Maiduguri, while Abia Warriors narrowly defeated Kano Pillars 1-0. Ikorodu City held Kwara United to a goalless draw in Ilorin, demonstrating their defensive solidity and resilience. These results further underscore the unpredictability of the NPFL and the potential for upsets. The varying scorelines and outcomes of these matches highlight the competitive depth of the league, and the importance of each team performing consistently throughout the season.
The match-day one fixtures concluded with a midweek clash between Niger Tornadoes and Nasarawa United, providing a final opportunity for teams to make an early statement of intent. This match added to the intrigue of the opening round of fixtures and provided further insights into the relative strengths and weaknesses of the competing teams. The match also offered a chance for both teams to gain crucial early points and establish a positive momentum for the season ahead.
The season opener between Remo Stars and Rivers United, played on Friday, ended in a 1-1 draw, setting the tone for a competitive and unpredictable season. This result served as an early indicator of the close competition expected throughout the league. The draw highlighted the importance of every point and the need for teams to consistently perform at a high level in order to achieve their objectives. The first round of fixtures provided a captivating start to the NPFL season, showcasing the league’s competitive balance, the emergence of new contenders, and the determination of established teams to maintain their dominance. The diverse results set the stage for an enthralling and unpredictable season, with every team vying for crucial points and looking to establish themselves as title contenders.
