Heating Up: NPFL Matchday 37 Prepares to Settle Scores as Season Nears End
Matchday 37 Fixtures in the Nigerian Professional Football League, Kick-Off Schedule, Top Four Race, Relegation Battles Intensify
The excitement's reaching a fever pitch as we approach the final stretch of the 2024-2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season. With only two rounds left, Sunday, May 11, promises a rollercoaster ride, with final showdowns, title confirmations, and relegation battles on the horizon.
Here's the lowdown on what you need to know about NPFL Matchday 37:
Title Champagne on Ice: Remo Stars Clinch Victory
Remo Stars have unquestionably earned the coveted title of champions, standing strong with 68 points after Matchday 36. Their impressive run, boasting an impressive 21 wins and a robust +18 goal difference, has left the competition far behind[3]. The Sky Blue Stars can celebrating their triumph in style, even with two games left.
Top 4 Battle: Playoffs or the Road to Europe
Although the title's wrapped up, the race for the top four—and a ticket to continental football—is heating up.
- Rivers United (61 pts): A challenging away bout against Kwara United could see them maintain their comfortable second spot.
- Abia Warriors (57 pts): A home tie against relegation-threatened El-Kanemi Warriors offers the perfect opportunity to get three crucial points and bolster their third-place standing[4].
- Ikorodu City (56 pts): They face the ultimate test—an away game against champions Remo Stars—to remain in contention for a continental ticket[4].
- Enyimba (55 pts): The defending champions must travel to face another top-half contender, Nasarawa United. It's do or die if they want to cling onto their continental hopes[4].
- Bendel Insurance (6th, 53 pts) could sneak in if those above falter, especially with a home game against struggling Heartland[4].
Last-Chance Survival: Who Faces the Drop?
Lobi Stars (25 pts) have already been relegated, but two more clubs will join them in the drop. Five teams are nervously looking over their shoulders:
- Akwa United (18th, 41 pts): A home game against Bayelsa United is a must-win. Any slip could be disastrous[1].
- Sunshine Stars (19th, 41 pts): They must beat Niger Tornadoes to avoid relegation. After an 18-year stretch in the top flight, this could mark their exit[1].
- Niger Tornadoes (17th, 45 pts): With their slim survival hopes hanging by a thread, they need a win to keep their top-flight dreams alive[1].
- Heartland (16th, 45 pts): Facing high-flying Bendel Insurance away, a win will provide much-needed assurance for them[1].
- El-Kanemi Warriors (15th, 46 pts): A tough trip to Abia Warriors could potentially drag them into deep waters[1].
With the razor-thin relegation race, any misstep could prove fatal.
Fixture Frenzy: Matchday 37 Schedule
Here are the NPFL Matchday 37 fixtures, set to kick off at 3 p.m. (Nigeria time) on Sunday, May 11[4]:
- Abia Warriors vs El-Kanemi Warriors
- Akwa United vs Bayelsa United
- Nasarawa United vs Enyimba
- Remo Stars vs Ikorodu City
- Plateau United vs Lobi Stars
- Sunshine Stars vs Niger Tornadoes
- Enugu Rangers vs Katsina United
- Bendel Insurance vs Heartland
- Kano Pillars vs Shooting Stars
- Kwara United vs Rivers United
Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion to the 2024-2025 NPFL season.
Enrichment Data:
NPFL Matchday 37 Results
Matchday 37 of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) witnessed several significant developments. Here are the key results:
- Remo Stars 4-1 Ikorodu City: Remo Stars officially clinched the title of 2024/25 NPFL champions.
- Abia Warriors 2-1 El-Kanemi Warriors: Abia Warriors secured a continental slot for the first time in their history by coming from behind to win.
- Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Sunshine Stars: Sunshine Stars was relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL) after an 18-year stay in the top flight.
- Nasarawa United 3-2 Enyimba: Nasarawa United secured top-flight survival with a win over Enyimba.
- Bendel Insurance 1-0 Heartland: Heartland FC’s slim hopes of survival were dashed.
- Plateau United 2-1 Lobi Stars: Lobi Stars joined Sunshine Stars in relegation.
- Kano Pillars 3-1 Shooting Stars: Ahmed Musa scored twice for Kano Pillars.
- Akwa United 2-0 Bayelsa United: Akwa United secured a comfortable win.
- Rangers 4-0 Katsina United: Rangers dominated Katsina United.
- Kwara United 3-1 Rivers United: Rivers United lost but held onto second place[5][6][7].
Predictions for the Final Matchday
With the current standings, the final matchday will focus on the following:
- Second Place and Champions League Spot: Rivers United and Abia Warriors are vying for second place. Rivers United will host Nasarawa United, while Abia Warriors travel to face Ikorodu City. The team finishing second will secure a Champions League spot, while the third-place team will enter the Confederation Cup[6][7].
- Relegation and Survival Battles: The relegation battle is largely settled with Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars relegated. However, the order of the teams in the middle of the table could still change based on the final matchday results[5][7].
Key Positions and Teams
- Remo Stars: Already champions.
- Rivers United: Currently second but faces Nasarawa United in the final match.
- Abia Warriors: Third place, aiming for second but must win at Ikorodu City.
- Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars: Relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL)[5][6][7].
- Remo Stars, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, will be celebrating their victory against Ikorodu City, with Remo Stars emerging as 4-1 winners in the Matchday 37 fixture.
- Sunshine Stars, who have spent 18 years in the top flight, were relegated after a 2-1 loss to Niger Tornadoes during the same matchday.
- A notable continental spot for the upcoming European-leagues is up for grabs as Rivers United and Abia Warriors battle it out for second place, with Rivers United hosting Nasarawa United, while Abia Warriors face Ikorodu City in the final matchday.
- In the ongoing relegation battle, Akwa United and Heartland FC's survival hopes have been dashed, as Akwa United managed a comfortable 2-0 win over Bayelsa United, and Bendel Insurance defeated Heartland 1-0.