Nigeria Premier Football League/Players Discussion Thread: 2026/27

[Marykeller]

The Nigerian Premier league has started with same old fashioned idea's that always gives a home to a win or a draw at most for a stronger team.  I don't know if I would say its there cultural practices that all home teams must win in all occasions except in some situations but it is very difficult to occur.
I will say they need to do something about it, I don’t know if its from the teams or a normal occurrence but that needs to stop so we will know if its because of political interference or anything else.

There is something about Nigerian's mentality as a whole when it comes to this phenomenon. We always believe that, when we're at home, we are the boss and we won't allow guests/outsiders to come best us. This mentality will make the home based team put in everything possible in winning. Meanwhile, the away team will be like, "if we lose, it's not bad; afterall, we are the away team". This mentality often influences not just the players, but the whole competition at large.

Well, this is the mentality of many clubs: to play their might to make sure they win or draw as the host team. It is left to the away team to put in extra effort to make sure they beat the home team.

Like in today's NPFL match day, we have about 3 home team wins, 2 home team draws, and 2 away wins.

I will say, our NPFL matches are not mainly for the home teams to win or draw, almost. It is for the team that performs better to win. It
doesn't matter whether the team is at home or away.

However, if we really think it is that way, don't you think the majority of us will be betting on home teams to win always?

[Obulis]

NPFL really needs to get a lot of things done, footballers doesn't play in the swimming pool or river and swimmers don't swim in the football field. Giving players the enabling environment is part of what brings out the best that's already in them. Together with the ministry of sports, the NPFL need that revolution that will go as far giving even under 17 of clubs the ground to exist and excel.

You actually made a very vital point, for the players to put in efforts they also need to be in a proper environment to train in order to bring out the best in them. If you compare them with standard teams you would see that the difference is just the environment that they train in and this has a huge impact on their performance, the NPFL needs to do better at this, they cannot expect much from just the little that's given to the players.

There should be a better structure in making the proper facilities available for the players, a lot of times this might even be the reason for the under performance of the players and it is not really noticed.

I will like to join these discussion because it draw my attention after i have  read through it, it will not be bad if the NPFL putting more in seeing the players training in a conducive environment that will keep the players healthy or influence them in training hard without any obstructing them from not training, but if you want to analyze deeply without assumptions based on these discussion, if the hands of NPFL officials doesn't have such resources in making the environments players trained conducive for them, they still make use the environment they might found themselves and bad environment can't stop a player that is good not doing what he knows best, when he called upon to play, so i believe that, as far as the NPFL still exists from season to season, NPFL officials will surely see reasons to improve in all areas of NPFL.

The corruption in NPFL is not a news but the reality. As much as conducive training and playing environment is consign, it must not necessarily be a global standard environment, Wembley stadium today is not what it was the day it was commissioned. NPFL can go on to give as much as it can offer and we all know that they can offer better than they're offering right now. Nigeria has what it takes to offer at least a quasi world class football environment for her players and they deserve it.

Saying that environment can't stop a good player from doing well means that environment don't have effects on people any longer and that's totally not correct. Environment has direct and indirect effects on our efforts towards life and can make people better or worst whether in business, football, science etc. Physical environment has effects on the mental environment that's required good performance. Won't there be joy if player a given news that they're going on one month training at Wembley stadium, why that joy? Environment can say so much about performance.

[Agbe]

Rivers United has been knockout from the CAF champions league. They played 2-2 with San Pedro. And they were removed by the aggregate Uyo Akwa Ibom State. Fininldi needs to improve on his coaching skills and if he is not doing well in the lower leagues, there is no need for him to come to the biggest team in the country to coach them. And that was what happened for the Super Eagles that they loss out the World Cup.

As Finidi took over the management in Rivers United, they have not really done well to impressed fans. I thought Rivers United would played the last match in the 2025/26 but it was Ikorodu City FC Vs Enugu Rangers and the Rangers won the match and became the champions.

[Hewlet]

Rivers United has been knockout from the CAF champions league. They played 2-2 with San Pedro. And they were removed by the aggregate Uyo Akwa Ibom State.

It is a very poor performance from Rivers united representing the NPFL and failing to take advantage of the fact that they are playing in their home ground. they literally went down two goals to nothing in the first half and had to struggle to get an equalizer eventually. why will anyone take our league seriously when we struggle at continental level? Finidi judge is still a struggling coach that can't still do too well with an NPFL team, how can he aspire to come back to the national team.

As for Rivers united, they always disappoint when it matters most. the league is still on and maybe they need to focus on the league so they wont see an excuse to give if they fail to win the league as it happened last season.


 

[Salahmu]

Fininldi needs to improve on his coaching skills and if he is not doing well in the lower leagues, there is no need for him to come to the biggest team in the country to coach them. And that was what happened for the Super Eagles that they loss out the World Cup.

As Finidi took over the management in Rivers United, they have not really done well to impressed fans.

Of course if Fininldi couldn't handle a local club against the same local coaches is it an international he would compete, his contract with Rivers United was meant to expire before now but is like the club wants to give him more chance to coach them even when they're not getting an encouraging performance from him, perhaps is from the position of Rivers United this season that would tell the management if they would still need him or not. However there is a way this Nigeria premier football League has been playing there matches I don't like, because while some team is about playing there fourth matches, some had played only one match, so why not making it the same on all the teams.

[knowngunman]

I will say, our NPFL matches are not mainly for the home teams to win or draw, almost. It is for the team that performs better to win. It
doesn't matter whether the team is at home or away.

However, if we really think it is that way, don't you think the majority of us will be betting on home teams to win always?

Well, I must commend the NPFL for changing a lot of things in this league. It's not a myth, it's what has been happening for long in the Nigerian Premier league. The home team is always at advantage over the visiting team. It happened everywhere including Europe, home teams do get home advantage but it was too obvious in the Nigerian league in the past especially in the core north. Hardly you see a visiting team getting away with a win or even a point because the match officials and the opponent players might be risking their lives. We have seen how so many matches usually get suspended due to riot that some times lead to teams suspension.

[Jostern]

Rivers United has been knockout from the CAF champions league. They played 2-2 with San Pedro. And they were removed by the aggregate Uyo Akwa Ibom State. Fininldi needs to improve on his coaching skills and if he is not doing well in the lower leagues, there is no need for him to come to the biggest team in the country to coach them. And that was what happened for the Super Eagles that they loss out the World Cup.

As Finidi took over the management in Rivers United, they have not really done well to impressed fans. I thought Rivers United would played the last match in the 2025/26 but it was Ikorodu City FC Vs Enugu Rangers and the Rangers won the match and became the champions.

Rivers United have lost the League twice I think, Finidi is always finishing second in the NPFL, Rivers United won the league before he took over the job, I don’t really know what Finidi George is Coaching the boys, loosing the league to Enugu Rangers was very terrible and also loosing the League to Ikorodu City in the Previous Season was also bad, I expect him to do better, I know Rivers United isn’t going to play well in the Continent which is why I don’t want to talk about it, they don’t have the players to compete in the Continent, which ever team the Nigerians Clubs meets in the CAF Champions League or CAF Confederation Cup you will know that they will always end up beating the Nigerian Clubs, if Finidi George can’t win the NPFL title this season I think he should leave the Job.

[Agbe]

I don’t really know what Finidi George is Coaching the boys,

The way I looked at his coaching skills. Finidi can only coach well in rural community football teams and not even urban community teams. Today again Finidi has a match to play which is Rivers United vs Warri Wolves by 4pm and it is just 2 hours to go. Head to head shows that, Rivers United had been winning them but we don't know how the current team will performance. And my prediction on this game is draw or Warri Wolves will win.

You can stream the match when it comes to live by 4pm. I will not support Rivers United because they will give me high blood pressure.

[Mate2237]

The game between Doma and Kano pillars starts soon and we all know that Doma is highly formidable this season but according to stats Kano pillars has recorded a win while they played on the home side against Doma in their previous encounter, even though this was a long time ago and it might not really have anything to do with the present, history tends to repeat itself. Doma has the advantage here but perhaps Kano pillars play differently against them when they are on the home side. Kano pillars also won their last match against tornadoes, I think they don't joke with home advantage, which is why I think that there is a possibility of them to perform well today.

[Mate2237]

Today's going to be an interesting match up between sporting lagos and barau, it is actually quite predictable but as we all know football can be full of surprises a lot of times. Barau are in good form and at the top of their league, they have been able to win three out of the five matches they've had so far. Sporting lagos on the other hand have not really had a good run and they are at a low position on the league table. What are your predictions on this match? I would say that barau would win easily but sporting lagos has home advantage.

[Obulis]

Fininldi needs to improve on his coaching skills and if he is not doing well in the lower leagues, there is no need for him to come to the biggest team in the country to coach them. And that was what happened for the Super Eagles that they loss out the World Cup.

As Finidi took over the management in Rivers United, they have not really done well to impressed fans.

Of course if Fininldi couldn't handle a local club against the same local coaches is it an international he would compete, his contract with Rivers United was meant to expire before now but is like the club wants to give him more chance to coach them even when they're not getting an encouraging performance from him, perhaps is from the position of Rivers United this season that would tell the management if they would still need him or not. However there is a way this Nigeria premier football League has been playing there matches I don't like, because while some team is about playing there fourth matches, some had played only one match, so why not making it the same on all the teams.

Men! it might not be a total fall or fail for fininldi. Is the effort of the coach totally enough? Of course no. A cooperation of the coach and the players is what makes the difference. No matter how good the coach, he won't be the one playing in the field. Giving him some times can make a difference.
As for the number of matches, it's supposed to move progressively. As team A are taking their first match other teams are supposed to level up in the same number of matches to measure the table collectively.

[Agbe]

A cooperation of the coach and the players is what makes the difference. No matter how good the coach, he won't be the one playing in the field. Giving him some times can make a difference.

Yes but the coach must be talented enough to educate the players what to do and not go there and stand still. No information, no tactics. I don't think you really understand what said that fans should give him more time to fix things. Is he a brother to Nigerian President? You see things are not right and asking for more time to make difference. How? Finidi would have been doing well in the lower team as the inter state team coach but if he can't do well in that place, then it is better for him to resign as coach or go to lower team like community or college football coach. I think he will do well on that place or he should go to coaching college to learn more.


Sporting Lagos vs Barau is ongoing now. And I am predicting sporting Lagos go win the match. They have a good score in the H2H.

[Mate2237]

Men! it might not be a total fall or fail for fininldi. Is the effort of the coach totally enough? Of course no. A cooperation of the coach and the players is what makes the difference. No matter how good the coach, he won't be the one playing in the field. Giving him some times can make a difference.
As for the number of matches, it's supposed to move progressively. As team A are taking their first match other teams are supposed to level up in the same number of matches to measure the table collectively.

You have a good point but let's not blame the coach only for this, he has his role to play and so does the players as well, a coach can give the right instructions and strategies to follow but the players can end up not following or doing things according to plan. Sometimes we are quick to put the underperformance of a club on the coach but they aren't the only one to be blamed for the lapses of the team. Ultimately, like you said, it is about giving finidi more time to actually prove himself to know if the fault is actually from him or the team.

[(Hummus)]

Men! it might not be a total fall or fail for fininldi. Is the effort of the coach totally enough? Of course no. A cooperation of the coach and the players is what makes the difference. No matter how good the coach, he won't be the one playing in the field. Giving him some times can make a difference.
As for the number of matches, it's supposed to move progressively. As team A are taking their first match other teams are supposed to level up in the same number of matches to measure the table collectively.

You have a good point but let's not blame the coach only for this, he has his role to play and so does the players as well, a coach can give the right instructions and strategies to follow but the players can end up not following or doing things according to plan. Sometimes we are quick to put the underperformance of a club on the coach but they aren't the only one to be blamed for the lapses of the team. Ultimately, like you said, it is about giving finidi more time to actually prove himself to know if the fault is actually from him or the team.

From the next few matches we are going to know if the problem is actually coming from the team or the coach but from the games played so far we cannot really point at a particular direction but one thing you need to know is that the coach is always going to be held responsible for the performance of the team, if they perform poorly or average it's all on the coach.

[Mate2237]

From the next few matches we are going to know if the problem is actually coming from the team or the coach but from the games played so far we cannot really point at a particular direction but one thing you need to know is that the coach is always going to be held responsible for the performance of the team, if they perform poorly or average it's all on the coach.

Your point is the same as mine,  A Coach is always going to be criticized when the results from the team is poor and so does the players as well but I think that we have to give finidi George the benefit of the doubt because it's a bit to early to come to any conclusions just yet. We all know that this is football and anything can happen, the coach isn't always responsible for the mistakes that happens on the pitch but what really matters is the results that the team gets at the end of the season, this is what should be focused on.

[ArabBTC]

Of course if Fininldi couldn't handle a local club against the same local coaches is it an international he would compete, his contract with Rivers United was meant to expire before now but is like the club wants to give him more chance to coach them even when they're not getting an encouraging performance from him, perhaps is from the position of Rivers United this season that would tell the management if they would still need him or not. However there is a way this Nigeria premier football League has been playing there matches I don't like, because while some team is about playing there fourth matches, some had played only one match, so why not making it the same on all the teams.

What is always wrong with our home base coaches? if they had given the coaching contract to a foreign coach people would have complained, now they have employed Finidi he is still flopping, i am even surprised at his coaching performance because back then during his playing days he use to be a fantastic player. In all this i miss late Stephen Keshi he is the only Nigerian coach i could count on to deliver any day, anytime.

[knowngunman]

Sporting Lagos vs Barau is ongoing now. And I am predicting sporting Lagos go win the match. They have a good score in the H2H.

The match ended draw with a 1-1 score. Barau took the lead towards the end of first half and Sporting Lagos equalised around 61 minute. As it stands, Barau is still unbeaten and maintaining the lead on the table with 12 points.

I'm more concerned about Eyimba FC and Niger Tornadoes. These two teams are currently sitting on the relegation zone. How Eyimba FC drop down from being a regular champions in the Nigeria Premier league to now being a relegation team is surprising. Eyimba has managed to get just one point so far after playing five games. Niger Tornadoes fate is understandable because lately they've been a mid table team.

[POPOLUV]

Rivers United has been knockout from the CAF champions league. They played 2-2 with San Pedro. And they were removed by the aggregate Uyo Akwa Ibom State.

It is a very poor performance from Rivers united representing the NPFL and failing to take advantage of the fact that they are playing in their home ground. they literally went down two goals to nothing in the first half and had to struggle to get an equalizer eventually. why will anyone take our league seriously when we struggle at continental level? Finidi judge is still a struggling coach that can't still do too well with an NPFL team, how can he aspire to come back to the national team.

As for Rivers united, they always disappoint when it matters most. the league is still on and maybe they need to focus on the league so they wont see an excuse to give if they fail to win the league as it happened last season.


 

As a gamblers, it is important to know that home advantage doesn't work for every teams most of the time, so with observation so concerning teams that do play in home and still succeed to win, if you truly watch very careful you will understand that home can not play the match for you, rather you are the one to play out your best to impress your fans because teams playing from home do carry much crowd in the stadium, so if Rivers united could make use of their home advantage, it simply means Sand Pedro came prepared and in a look of things, Sad Pedro performance was an excellent one, even as Rivers united came from behind to draw with Sad Pedro.

[Mate2237]

What is always wrong with our home base coaches? if they had given the coaching contract to a foreign coach people would have complained, now they have employed Finidi he is still flopping, i am even surprised at his coaching performance because back then during his playing days he use to be a fantastic player. In all this i miss late Stephen Keshi he is the only Nigerian coach i could count on to deliver any day, anytime.

I must say that I'm actually quite disappointed and short of words, in as much as finidi isn't the only one to blame he had a chance to prove himself in this match and a lot of us gave him the benefit of the doubt but it is quite sad that he failed again. Losing to Guinea-Bissau was a big flop and it was so bad that Nigeria could not even score a single goal, how pathetic. He might have been a great player when he was still in his prime but that doesn't really mean that he knows how to Coach a team, one might have the skill but be unable to teach properly. If finidi is the cause of the current problem with the team then they should think of replacing him as soon as possible.

[Davidvictorson]

I must say that I'm actually quite disappointed and short of words, in as much as finidi isn't the only one to blame he had a chance to prove himself in this match and a lot of us gave him the benefit of the doubt but it is quite sad that he failed again. Losing to Guinea-Bissau was a big flop and it was so bad that Nigeria could not even score a single goal, how pathetic. He might have been a great player when he was still in his prime but that doesn't really mean that he knows how to Coach a team, one might have the skill but be unable to teach properly. If finidi is the cause of the current problem with the team then they should think of replacing him as soon as possible.

I would say that we have to be a little bit patient with the coach. And as much as it may seem right now that it is his fault we all know that there are a lot the with the level factors that’s coming to play. So it is not just his fault, but it could be the team dynamics motivation, the level of cohesion and so many other factors. There’s still room for improvement and I hope that he has been able to learn or will learn from the loss. And then if he doesn’t perform as expected, he can be sacked simple and straight straightforward