• Jigawa, Warri Wolves relegated
• Nwankwo, Atshimene are joints’ top scorers
By Taofeek Babalola
Rivers United and Enyimba FC picked the two remaining continental tickets as the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season came to an end yesterday after MatchDay 38 matches.
Rivers United, which lost 1-0 to Sunshine Stars in Akure, qualified for CAF Champions League through a board room points following the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee decision to award three points and three goals to the Rivers team against Jigawa Golden Stars for fielding an ineligible player (Richard Christopher) who was suspended for the Match Day 34 fixture due to accumulated cards.
The League Management Company (LMC) had earlier ruled in favour of Jigawa Golden Stars, stating that the error was from their staff and Rivers United didn’t honour the fair play rules.
The NFF decision means Rivers United ended the season in second position with 66 points while Enyimba, which finished third secured a CAF Confederation Cup qualification with a 2-1 victory over Dakkada FC in Uyo, amassing 66 points.
Also, Akwa United had on Sunday secured their first continental slot to play in the CAF Champions league, having won their first league title in 25 years following a comprehensive 5-2 win against MFM in Uyo.
However, Jigawa Golden Stars and Warri Wolves were relegated from the NPFL with a 2-0 loss to MFM and 1-0 defeat to FC IfeanyiUbah respectively that assured Wikki Tourists and Sunshine Stars of their top-flight status.
Jigawa Golden Stars and Warri Wolves will now join already-demoted Adamawa United and FC IfeanyiUbah in second-tier Nigeria National League (NNL) next season.
Meanwhile, it was a dramatic ending in the race for the league top scorer award as Nasarawa United forward Silas Nwankwo and Akwa United forward Charles Atshimene ended the season as joint top scorer with 19 goals.
Nwankwo netted his 19th goals in his side’s 3-1 loss to Abia warriors in Okigwe while Atshimene also scored his 19th in his side’s 2-1 defeat to Lobi Stars in Makurdi.
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