The 2010–11 Nigeria Premier League was the 40th season of the competition since its inception, and the 21st since the rebranding of the league as the "Professional League". Enyimba International were the defending champions.
The season was originally supposed to start 25 September, then was delayed to 2 October. However after a series of meetings and threatened lawsuits, the league announced that it would play with 24 teams, including the four teams relegated from the previous season. The tentative compromise plans included two divisions of 12 teams each with the top two making the season-ending Super Four, mirroring the league's format in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. This idea was canceled by the NPL on October 7 and the league returned to 20 teams for the season.
The season was delayed again to start the weekend of 23 October,NPL kicks off October 23 with record 24 clubs and delayed yet again to 6 November because of issues with the assignment of referees. Due to enforcement of minimum pitch standards, several teams have been made to play in different stadiums outside their home cities.
The second half of the season began 11 May after a six-week break, including two delays for national elections. The season was finished on 13 November 2011 after another six-week delay to allow for the Federation Cup and teams playing on the continent to concentrate on their fixtures.
Clubs
Team nameHome cityHome venueFirst year of current stint in LeagueBukola BabesIlorinKwara State Stadium/Tafawa Balewa Stadium2010Crown FCOgbomoshoIlaro Stadium2010DolphinsPort HarcourtLiberation Stadium2009Enugu RangersEnuguNnamdi Azikiwe Stadium1973EnyimbaAbaEnyimba International Stadium1994Gombe UnitedGombeAbubarkar Tafawa Balewa Stadium/Pantami Stadium1994HeartlandOwerriDan Anyiam Stadium/U.J. Esuene Stadium1975JUTH F.C.JosRwang Pam Stadium/Kaduna Township Stadium2010Kaduna UnitedKadunaKaduna Township Stadium2008Kano PillarsKanoSani Abacha Stadium2001Kwara UnitedIlorinKwara State Stadium/Offa Stadium/MKO Abiola Stadium2009Lobi StarsMakurdiJalingo City Stadium/Aper Aku Stadium1999Niger TornadoesMinnaMinna Township Stadium2003Ocean BoysBrassSamson Siasia Stadium2006Plateau UnitedJosRwang Pam Stadium/Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium2010SharksPort HarcourtSharks Stadium2008Shooting StarsIbadanMKO Abiola Stadium/Liberty Stadium2009Sunshine StarsAkureGateway Stadium (Ijebu Ode)2007Warri WolvesWarriWarri Township Stadium2008Zamfara UnitedGusauSardauna Memorial Stadium/Sani Abacha Stadium2007
League table
Personnel and kits Team Manager Captain Kit Makers SponsorBukola Babes Kabiru Sulaiman Abubakar YusufCrown FC Oladunni Oyekale Johnson AbiodunDolphins Stanley Eguma Emmanuel GodwinEnugu Rangers Alphonsus Dike Austin IyangbeEnyimba Okey Emordi Okechukwu OditaJomaGombe United Bernard OgbeHeartland Lodewijk de Kruif Chinedu EfughJUTH F.C. Emmanuel DeutschKaduna United Maurice Cooreman Papa IdrisKano Pillars Ladan BossoKwara United Kadiri IkhanaLobi Stars John ZakiNiger Tornadoes Justin Tenger Kelvin NjokuOcean Boys Samson UnuanelPlateau United Nduka Ndubuisi Ajibade OmoladeSharks John Obuh Odinga OdingaShooting Stars Fatai Amoo Shakiru LawalOWU SportswearSunshine Stars Gbenga Ogunbote James MosesWarri Wolves Paul Aigbogun Goodluck NnamaduLottoOceanic BankZamfara United Bello Garba Gusau
News December 12- Ocean Boys defender Emmanuel Okoli collapsed 39 minutes into a game vs. Niger Tornadoes and died en route to the hospital. December 16- The league was named the "MTN Premier League" after the NFF secured sponsorship from the MTN Group.MTN win NPL sponsorship rights However sponsorship was rescinded January 27 and the bidding was reopened. January 8- In Abeokuta, Shooting Stars and Tornadoes played the first night game in Nigeria's top division in twenty-nine years. Due to unrest in the city of Jos, on January 13 JUTH announced they were moving home games to Kaduna and Plateau United were going to play in Enugu for one month.
Managerial (head coach) changes
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming managerDate of appointmentWarri WolvesLawrence Akpokonafiredend of 2009-10 season Paul Aigbogun2 September 2010Kwara United Justin Tengerfiredend of 2009-10 season Kadiri Ikhana17 July 2010Kwara United To Unveil Ikhana As New CoachSunshine StarsSolomon OgbeidefiredAug. 18 2010 Gbenga OgunboteAug. 18 2010Gombe UnitedBen DuamlongResignedOct.8 2010 Bernard Ogbe Nov. 5 2010Heartland Samson Siasiaresigned to take Super Eagles jobDec. 1 2010 Lodewijk de KruifFeb. 7 2011Niger Tornadoes Ladan BossofiredNov. 26 2010 Samson Unuanel (interim)Nov. 26 2010Crown F.C.Ganiyu SalamifiredJan. 22 2011 Oladunni OyekaleJan. 22 2011Kano Pillars F.C.Salisu Yusufresigned to become Super Eagles assistantJan. 1 2011 Ladan BossoJan. 23 2011Niger Tornadoes Samson Unuanelinterim period endsFeb. 6 2011 Justin TengerFeb. 6 2011JUTH F.C.Tunde AbdulrahmanfiredFeb. 17 2011 Emmanuel DeutschFeb. 28 2011Ocean Boys F.C.Larry EcelifiredMay 20, 2011 Samson Unuanel Ocean Boys sack EceliMay 20, 2011Bukola Babes F.C.Festus Allensuspended/resignedJune 8, 2011 Kabiru SulaimanJune 8, 2011
References
External links Nigeria Premier League at FIFA.com Naija League