The 2025–26 Nigeria Premier Football League was the 55th season of Nigeria's top-flight association football league, the 36th since attaining professionalism and the third under the current name. The season commenced on 22 August 2025 and ended on 24 May 2026 with a one-week mid-season break from 30 December to 6 January and another two weeks break from 20 April to 2 May.
After an eventful final matchday, Enugu Rangers were crowned champions after defeating Ikorodu City away at Lagos to remain ahead of Rivers United on the table. Their win was their second in three seasons and their ninth overall, making them joint highest league winners along with Enyimba.
Defending champions Remo Stars were relegated along with El-Kanemi Warriors on the final matchday, as they failed to win their games with Remo Stars relegating on goal difference against Kwara United. Remo Stars became the third defending champion to get relegated the following season, following Shooting Stars in 1999 and Bayelsa United in 2010. They joined Wikki Tourists and Bayelsa United, who had been previously confirmed relegated two weeks prior.
Shooting Stars qualified for a continental tournament for the first time since 1999, qualifying for the 2026–27 CAF Confederation Cup ahead of Ikorodu City despite a loss at the final matchday.
Teams Changes from previous season Twenty teams, consisting of the top sixteen teams from the previous season and four promoted teams from the Nigeria National League, are competing in the league. The promoted teams are NNL champions Warri Wolves, Wikki Tourists who have played previously in the top flight, and newcomers Barau and Kun Khalifat.
Promoted from2024–25 National League Relegated to2025–26 National League Warri WolvesWikki TouristsBarauKun Khalifat Lobi StarsSunshine StarsAkwa UnitedHeartland
Teams information
TeamKit supplier Shirt Sponsor Sleeve Sponsor LocationStadiumCapacityAbia Warriors OwuEunisellUmuahiaUmuahia Township Stadium5,000Barau Cone sportDambattaSani Abacha Stadium16,000Bayelsa UnitedYenagoaSamson Siasia StadiumOzoro Stadium5,00010,000Bendel Insurance FourteenSterling BankBenin CitySamuel Ogbemudia Stadium12,000El-Kanemi WarriorsMaiduguriEl-Kanemi Stadium10,000Enugu Rangers Cone sportAfrinvest Senior Barman NortraEnuguNnamdi Azikiwe Stadium22,000EnyimbajomaStake.comUnited Nigeria AirlinesAbaEnyimba International Stadium16,000Ikorodu City CF motoBetking Indomie Ikorodu, LagosOnikan Stadium10,000Kano Pillars AO RFI hausaKanoSani Abacha Stadium16,000Katsina United S sportKatsinaMuhammadu Dikko Stadium35,000Kun KhalifatAdidas Old English Bar & Grills OwerriDan Anyiam Stadium10,000Kwara United Owu BC GamesIlorinKwara State Stadium18,000Nasarawa United Elite king sport LafiaLafia Township Stadium10,000Niger Tornadoes Ammaz Niger foodsMinnaBako Kontagora Stadium5,000Plateau UnitedCone sportJosNew Jos Stadium44,000Remo Stars DexieBet9jaValueJetIkenneRemi Stars Stadium10,000Rivers UnitedOwuPort HarcourtAdokiye Amiesimaka Stadium40,000Shooting Stars Pavelet IbadanLekan Salami Stadium15,000Warri Wolves TicoWarriOzoro Stadium10,000Wikki Tourists M sports BauchiAbubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium11,000
League table
Results
Positions by round
Season statistics Scoring Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Jonathan Mairiga Wikki Tourists14 Victor Mbaoma Remo Stars Godwin Obaje Enugu Rangers4 Joseph Arumala Ikorodu City12 Uche Collins Katsina United6 Abia Warriors11 Michael Chidera Enyimba8 Daddy Abdulrahman 10 Warri Wolves Alex Oweilayefa Bendel Insurance
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Abdulaziz Dalhatu Niger Tornadoes Plateau United 4–0 (H) 19 October 2025 Uche Collins Katsina United Wikki Tourists 4–4 (A) 8 February 2026 Alex Oweilayefa Bendel Insurance Ikorodu City 4–0 (H) 1 March 2026Evwierhurhoma IgbunuWarri Wolves Ikorodu City 3–4 (A)29 March 2026
Top Assisters
RankPlayerClubAssists1 Ayobami Junior 132 Plateau United73 Chibueze Oputa Enugu Rangers6 Hadi Haruna Remo Stars5 Mubarak Sani Katsina United5 Shehu Dabai Niger Tornadoes7 Kabiru Tijani Shooting Stars4 Bala Imamu Wikki Tourists Ahmed MusaKano Pillars Rabiu Ali
Top Cleansheets
RankPlayerClubCleansheets 1 Michael Atata Ikorodu City162 Lucky Jimoh Enugu Rangers153 Rivers United144 Ifeanyi Emmanuel 135 Okiemute Odah Abia Warriors12 Abuchi Okeke Kano Pillars7 Kelvin Ogunga Enyimba11 Godwill Utum Wikki Tourists Abdullahi Zalli Katsina United10 Vincent Edafe Warri Wolves10
See also 2026 Nigeria Federation Cup 2026 Nigeria Women's Federation Cup 2025–26 Nigeria National League 2025–26 NWFL Premiership
References