Last season proved that reputation means very little once the competition begins. Remo Stars went from champions to a relegated side in the space of a year, while Rangers turned a one-point advantage over Rivers United into their ninth league title
The Nigeria Premier Football League returned on Friday for the 2026/27 season with more at stake than the usual battle for the title, continental places and survival.
The campaign began with a South-West clash as Shooting Stars hosted newly promoted Inter Lagos in a 2-1 win for the home side at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, before the remaining nine Matchday 1 fixtures are played on Sunday.
Rangers International enter the season as defending champions after edging Rivers United by a single point last season, but retaining the crown will be considerably more difficult.
The Enugu club must also balance its title defence with a CAF Champions League campaign, while Rivers United, Shooting Stars and Ikorodu City will be among the clubs hoping to challenge for the championship.
Off the pitch, the league enters a potentially significant new phase following the three-year, $7.5 million title sponsorship agreement with EuroMatch, ending a lengthy wait for a conventional title sponsor.
With 60 per cent of the annual sponsorship proceeds earmarked for the participating clubs and a record ₦1 billion awaiting the champions, the financial incentives are greater than before.
But last season offered a reminder that money, reputation and previous success provide no guarantees in the NPFL.
Remo Stars went from champions in 2024/25 to relegated side in 2025/26, while Rangers converted a one-point advantage over Rivers United into their ninth league title.
The question now is whether the new season will produce another surprise or whether one of the established contenders can seize the bigger prize.
Rangers finished last season with 68 points, one ahead of Rivers United, after winning 19 of their 38 matches.
Their championship was secured on the final day when they defeated Ikorodu City 2-1 in Lagos, completing a remarkable campaign for a club that began the season determined to reclaim the title.
Now, the challenge is different.
Defending champions are rarely given time to settle. Every opponent wants the scalp of the reigning champions, while expectations from supporters increase.
Rangers will also have to manage the demands of continental football. Their CAF Champions League campaign begins against AS Sobemap of Benin Republic in the preliminary round.
That means coach Fidelis Ilechukwu must rotate his squad effectively to prevent injuries and fatigue from undermining the domestic title defence.
The club will also temporarily play its home matches at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta while renovation work continues at its Enugu stadium.
Rangers begin their league campaign against Katsina United on Sunday.
If Rangers are under pressure, Rivers United have every reason to believe they can go one better this time.
The Port Harcourt club finished second with 67 points, staying within touching distance of the eventual champions until the final day.
Under Finidi George, Rivers United have established themselves among the NPFL’s most consistent teams.
Their opening fixture against Plateau United at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium provides an early opportunity to lay down a marker.
With Rangers facing continental commitments, Rivers United could see an opportunity to exploit any slip-ups from the champions.
The bigger challenge, as always, will be consistency across 38 matches.
Shooting Stars were one of last season’s leading stories, finishing third with 60 points, as the Ibadan based club won 18 matches and ended six points behind Rangers, giving them a platform from which to launch another title challenge.
They opened the new campaign with a 2-1 victory over newly promoted Inter Lagos at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Friday, making a winning start to their 2026/27 campaign.
Lucky Emmanuel gave the hosts the lead in the 11th minute after running into the box to meet a flick-on from a throw-in before latching onto a low drive into the goalkeeper’s right corner.
Inter Lagos responded midway through the first half, with captain Uchenna Njoku scoring the club’s first-ever NPFL goal. He finished into an empty net after a fine run and pinpoint pass across the face of goal by Adigun Damilare.
However, the visitors’ joy was short-lived as Shooting Stars were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time, with Sodiq Ibrahim converting to restore the hosts’ advantage.
Chances were few and far between after the restart, although substitute Qamar Adejoke provided another spark for Shooting Stars and won a second penalty towards stoppage time. Fellow substitute Adams Mustapha, however, was denied by …
